Changes to the Earthquake-Prone Building System

When – Monday 17th November 2025

Where – Room 342, Building 423, University of Auckland - 20 Symonds Street, Auckland Central, Auckland.

Agenda –
17:30 pre-presentation refreshments
18:00 presentation

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Abstract

The Government recently announced proposed changes to the earthquake-prone building (EPB) system. The changes will see the system move to a more proportionate and risk-based system – targeting high-risk building types and focusing on buildings most vulnerable to earthquakes. This presentation will provide background from the EPB system review, describe key elements of the new system, and outline the steps ahead.

Biography

Ken Elwood

Ken Elwood, Professor at University of Auckland, currently serves as Chief Engineer (Building Resilience) for Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment and the Natural Hazards Commission. He is involved in research and provides policy advice in relation to the seismic risk of existing buildings and design of new buildings. 

Ken received his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 2002, M.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995, and BASc from the University of British Columbia in 1993. He has over 20 years experience on international standards and code committees in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.  He chairs the Engineering New Zealand Seismic Risk Working Group and the Joint Committee for Seismic Assessment and Retrofit. Ken is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, and American Concrete Institute, and currently serves as Executive Vice President of the International Association for Earthquake Engineering. 

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