The Government's introducing an Amendment Bill, targeted at areas with real risk to human life, in high to medium seismic areas.
Minister of Finance and Wellington-based list MP Nicola Willis says it will roughly halve the number of buildings classed as quake prone.
She says the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment estimates about a billion dollars of savings in Wellington alone.
Mayor Tory Whanau describes the reform as a huge win, as many owners cannot afford to upgrade buildings to the current standards.
The council will consider what it means for the Capital E building, which forms part of the City to Sea bridge.