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133AQ: Territorial authority may assess information relating to earthquake-prone building status at any time
or “The council can check if a building is safe from earthquakes whenever they want”

You could also call this:

“The city council can make rules to keep people safe around wobbly buildings that might fall down in an earthquake.”

If the local council decides a building or part of a building in their area is at risk during earthquakes, they can do a few things to keep people safe. They can put up a fence to stop people from getting too close to the dangerous part. They can also put up a sign to warn people not to go near the building.

The council can also make a special notice that limits who can go into the building and for what reasons. This notice must be in writing and stuck onto the building. The council also needs to give a copy of this notice to certain people, as mentioned in section 133AL(5). The notice can last for up to 30 days, and they can extend it once for another 30 days if needed.

Even if the council doesn’t give the notice to everyone they’re supposed to, it’s still valid as long as it’s on the building.

If the council has put up a fence or a warning sign, or made a special notice, you’re not allowed to use or be in the building unless the notice says you can. You also can’t let anyone else use or be in the building.

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Next up: 133AS: Territorial authority may carry out seismic work

or “The local council can fix earthquake-prone buildings if the owner doesn't do it in time.”

Part 2 Building
Special provisions for earthquake-prone buildings: Powers of territorial authorities in respect of earthquake-prone buildings

133ARTerritorial authority may impose safety requirements

  1. If a territorial authority determines that a building or a part of a building in its district is earthquake prone, the territorial authority may do any or all of the following:

  2. put up a hoarding or fence to prevent people from approaching the building or part nearer than is safe:
    1. attach in a prominent place, on or adjacent to the building or part, a notice that warns people not to approach the building or part:
      1. issue a notice that complies with subsection (2) restricting entry to the building or part for particular purposes or restricting entry to particular persons or groups of persons.
        1. A notice issued under subsection (1)(c)—

        2. must be in writing; and
          1. must be fixed to the building in question; and
            1. must be given in the form of a copy to the persons listed in section 133AL(5); and
              1. may be issued for a period of up to 30 days; and
                1. may be reissued, but not more than once, for a further period of up to 30 days.
                  1. However, a notice issued under subsection (1)(c), if fixed on the building, is not invalid because a copy of it has not been given to any or all of the persons listed in section 133AL(5).

                  2. If, in relation to a building or a part of a building, a territorial authority has put up a hoarding or fence or attached a notice under subsection (1)(b) or (c), no person may, other than in accordance with the terms of a notice issued under subsection (1)(c),—

                  3. use or occupy the building or part; or
                    1. permit another person to use or occupy the building or part.
                      Notes
                      • Section 133AR: inserted, on , by section 24 of the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 22).