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To check a New Zealand property, look up its location in the Natural Hazards Portal and the relevant council’s hazard maps, then search MBIE’s Earthquake-Prone Building (EPB) Register separately. The maps describe hazards associated with the land; the register records formal council determinations about certain buildings. Neither is a building-specific engineering assessment.
1. Identify the exact property
Use the full street address. For an apartment block, commercial complex, or large site, identify the particular building or building part you want to check. A map pin may not match a parcel boundary or distinguish structures on the same site. If the address or boundary is unclear, ask the local council to confirm which records and map location apply.
2. Check hazards associated with the location
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Open the Natural Hazards Portal and follow its “hazards in your area” information to relevant national and local sources.
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Review the local council’s hazard maps and property information for layers relevant to the site. The Natural Hazards Commission specifically advises asking the council about liquefaction, lateral spread, changes in land level, and landslips. See its earthquake guidance.
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Check what each map layer represents and its date or source. Shaking hazard and ground failure are different issues; one map layer should not be treated as a complete assessment of the property.
What national models can and cannot tell you
The National Seismic Hazard Model estimates the likelihood and strength of earthquake shaking in different parts of New Zealand. It helps describe regional hazard, but it does not inspect an individual building or establish how that building will perform. The Natural Hazards Commission’s earthquake information also points readers toward local advice for hazards at a particular location.
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For liquefaction questions, the National Liquefaction Model is primarily intended for people working in hazard risk reduction. It is not a substitute for a building-consent decision or a site-specific assessment. For detailed property information, consult the council or an independent qualified geotechnical professional. The Commission explains the model’s limitations in its earthquake guidance.
3. Check the building’s formal earthquake-prone status
Search MBIE Building Performance’s Earthquake-Prone Building Register by address or building name. The register contains buildings that territorial authorities have formally determined to be earthquake prone, after an EPB notice has been issued and the information recorded.
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If a search returns no result, contact the relevant territorial authority to check its records. An empty result does not establish that the building or land is risk-free: the register is a record of formal determinations, not a map of every earthquake hazard or a universal condition report.
Understand what an NBS rating means
Under the current system, an earthquake rating is stated as a percentage of the New Building Standard (NBS). MBIE’s current regulatory guidance uses two EPB notice categories: 0% to less than 20% NBS, and 20% to less than 34% NBS. These percentages compare assessed building performance with a new building on the same site. They are not the probability of an earthquake and do not describe the hazard category of the land. See MBIE’s earthquake-prone building guidance.
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Account for the 2026–2027 transition
MBIE’s current guidance says there are no longer designated EPBs in Auckland, the Chatham Islands, and the upper North Island low seismic zone. Elsewhere, the current EPB system remains in place until 30 June 2027; a new system under the 2026 amendment takes effect on 1 July 2027. Because classifications and the register system have changed, check MBIE’s current guidance when interpreting an older listing or historical EPB label. For a missing or disputed record, ask the territorial authority.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. For a purchase, cross-check records and condition
Use more than a single map result when assessing a property. Review council and property information, including available LIM material, and consider a pre-purchase inspection or advice from a qualified professional. For land questions, a geotechnical professional can interpret site-specific conditions; for questions about the building’s performance, seek appropriately qualified structural-engineering advice. The Commission’s guidance on earthquake hazards directs readers to qualified advice for detailed property information, and its shared-property guidance recommends qualified structural-engineering advice on building performance.
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The Portal’s claims map can show settled claim history. That history is not the same as present hazard exposure or the property’s current condition, and open claims may not appear. Treat it as one record to review, not as a safety rating.
How to interpret different results
| Source | What it tells you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Hazards Portal and council hazard maps | Mapped or modeled hazards associated with the location, depending on the layer and source. | Whether a particular building is structurally safe or how it will perform in an earthquake. |
| National Seismic Hazard Model | Estimated likelihood and strength of earthquake shaking across regions. | A site inspection or building-specific risk assessment. |
| EPB Register | Formal earthquake-prone determinations recorded by territorial authorities. | A comprehensive list of all land hazards, or proof of safety when no result appears. |
| Claims map | Settled claims history shown on the map. | Current hazard exposure or present building condition; open claims may not be shown. |
When comparing properties or sources, make sure you are looking at the same address, parcel, and building part. Note whether information concerns shaking, liquefaction, landslide, a council record, a formal EPB determination, or historical claims—and check the source and date. “Every earthquake is different and unpredictable,” as the Natural Hazards Commission puts it; no single map layer or register search can settle every property-specific question.
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