Earthquake prone notice lifted for Heretaunga Block at Hutt Hospital

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CouncilProperty & Building

Published: 12 December 2023

Hutt City Council has determined that the Heretaunga Block at Hutt Hospital is no longer earthquake-prone under section 133AK of the Building Act 2004.

Te Whatu Ora on behalf of Hutt Hospital has submitted additional engineering information to Hutt City Council regarding the Heretaunga Block’s seismic status. This includes an additional engineering review of the precast panels on the Heretaunga Block which was the main contributor to the building’s earthquake-prone status.

In June 2022, Hutt City Council notified the Hutt Valley District Health Board (DHB) and Te Whatu Ora that the Heretaunga Block was determined to be earthquake-prone under the Building Act. This was because Aurecon’s Detailed Seismic Assessment (June 2022) identified the precast concrete panels had a 15%NBS (IL3). This resulted in the Heretaunga Block being rated 15%NBS (IL3) and earthquake-prone under the legislation.

The Heretaunga Block is a priority building* under the legislation. As such, the DHB was given seven-and-a-half years to resolve the earthquake prone building status or to provide further engineering advice.

A peer review of the additional engineering advice undertaken by Beca on behalf of Te Whatu Ora has provided new information on the Heretaunga Block’s façade.

Hutt City Council has considered this information, including seeking independent engineering advice. As the building is now rated at more than 33%NBS (35%NBS (IL3), the earthquake-prone building notice will be lifted.

Te Whatu Ora has also commissioned new Detailed Seismic Assessments on other buildings at Hutt Hospital site.

More information regarding earthquake-prone buildings can be found here.

More information on Hutt City Council’s role in determining the earthquake-prone status of the Heretaunga Block can be found here.

*Priority building is a term that is defined in the Building Act for hospitals/schools/emergency management buildings and others that have a shorter timeframe to resolve as they have a post disaster use.