12. Question No. 12—Building and ConstructionANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionQuestion No. 12—Building and Construction12. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua) to the Minister for Building and Construction: Should there be two technical seismic guidelines covering pre-cast flooring systems such as concrete hollowcore operating at the same time; and if so why is this necessary?Hon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): There is only one mandatory technical guideline for the assessment of buildings with pre-cast concrete floors: this is the 2017 engineering assessment guidelines known as the Red Book". The proposed technical revision issued in November 2018 referred to as the "Yellow Book" reflects what engineers have learnt from the investigation into the partial collapse of Statistics House following the Kaikōura earthquake. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) requires evidence before it considers a change to the engineering assessment guidelines. MBIE is testing the revised engineering guidelines and that information will inform an assessment about whether it's appropriate to change the earthquake-prone building (EPB) regime. MBIE is working with Engineering New Zealand on this.Andrew Bayly: How can it be reasonable for her ministry to take up to two years to complete an impact assessment report on comparing the two technical seismic guidelines?Hon JENNY SALESA: The engineering guidelines that we have right now are robust. It took several years to have it confirmed and to have it enshrined in our legislation. MBIE is currently working in partnership with Engineering New Zealand and the sector on the yellow guidelines and it is to inform us as to whether or not we should update the current guidelines that we have. The public consultation began on the assessment in March of 2012. Policy decisions were made in August of 2013. The legislation including the assessment was introduced to the House in December of 2013 enacted in May 2016 and came into force in July of 2017. That was a five-year process. What I'm saying at the moment is MBIE is working on these yellow guidelines—two years—because we must have evidence before we come through with new technical guidelines.Andrew Bayly: Does she believe it's fair on owners of buildings to be in a situation where there are two technical guidelines with conflicting requirements and they must somehow navigate how they meet both requirements?Hon JENNY SALESA: There is only one mandatory guideline: the "Red Book" assessment guidelines that we have. The yellow guidelines are currently being tested by Engineering New Zealand and MBIE. There are no two guidelines; there is one mandatory which is enshrined in our law and we're currently working on possible updates to that.Andrew Bayly: Why has she not instructed MBIE to use some of the $43 million surplus sitting in the memorandum account funded by the building levy to fast track this impact assessment?Hon JENNY SALESA: The member should probably read the details of the Building Act 2004. When he does he will get to see that there are only certain things that the levy fund could be utilised in. We are about to come through and have public discussions including the building levy. The member is most welcome to give us his opinion then.Kieran McAnulty: Why weren't pre-cast or hollowcore flooring incorporated into the EPB regime?Hon JENNY SALESA: When the earthquake-prone building regime was developed it was focused on those buildings and parts of the buildings that posed the greatest risk to public safety in a moderate earthquake event. The regime has a particular focus on first unreinforced masonry buildings—URM buildings—second certain pre-1935 buildings; and third other pre-1976 multi-storey concrete buildings. Pre-cast concrete floors were not included by the last Government when the law was passed in 2016. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! If people want a supplementary they stand up."