The Wellington City Council has designated dozens of roads as "emergency routes" and is forcing quake prone buildings on them to urgently strengthen.
It means 191 buildings on those roads will now have to strengthen in seven-and-a half-years – half the normal time frame.
The roads include major thoroughfares to the hospital and airport that the council wants clear of rubble if a quake strikes.
Laura Newcombe’s flower shop and upstairs flat is on the same road as the hospital and is one of the buildings that need strengthening.
She’s been told it will cost about $750,000 and she’ll have to move out for a year while the work is done.
"I knew it would cost a lot but I didn't expect it to cost twice what I paid for the building."
Ms Newcombe is struggling to get a loan and fears for the future of her business.
"I just can get very anxious and quite stressed if you think about it all the time, but all you’ve got to do is you’ve got to keep working hard, work as many hours as you possibly can and just squirrel the money away."
Ms Newcombe argues that if the strengthening work is to protect the public then there should be some help from the public purse.
"The fact that it is for the public, it's just not reasonable, it’s not reasonable, central government really needs to step up."
1 NEWS has spoken to some apartment owners facing bills of up to a million dollars each - double the value of their homes.
They didn’t want to be identified but say the costs are not viable and will leave them saddled with debt and possibly homeless.
Councillor Iona Pannett, whose ward represents many of the affected building owners, was the only councillor to vote against the stricter measures.
She says the huge costs facing owners can’t be overlooked.
"We do have a level of risk of suffering an earthquake in the city and people should strengthen their buildings. But at the point it gets to be more than the value of the actual building or the apartment, it’s getting a bit out of control," Ms Pannet said.
Ms Pannett says given there is some public benefit to the strengthening then the Government and council needs to make some contributions.
Wellington’s mayor Justin Lester acknowledges it will be tough for some apartment owners, but says safety is the priority.
"This was a really easy decision for us, in fact it’s the only decision we can make. I want to make sure that if we have 'The Wellington Earthquake', if we have an 8.5 Richter level earthquake in the city, that we mitigate all possible impact on Wellingtonians and on buildings and the city getting back on its feet."
If the seven-and-a-half-year deadline passes and building owners haven’t done the work, then the council could fine them up to $200,000.
The council also has the option to either strengthen or demolish the buildings at the owners’ expense.
A council grant of $500,000 is available for affected building owners, but they say it pales in comparison to the big costs they face.
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