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Three new categories for residential foundation design have been developed and will be required for repairing and rebuilding homes in Canterbury following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, it was announced today.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the foundation designs apply to the flat land in the residential green zone in Canterbury, which has now been divided by engineering experts into three new technical categories (TC1, TC2 and TC3).

Recommendations in the interim report from the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry will support and assist the rebuild of Christchurch, Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Mr Williamson welcomed the report, which was released today.

Recommendations in the report cover such matters as soil analysis and appropriate foundation design, changes to some structural design standards and construction practices, and use of new building technologies.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has welcomed today's release of a Department of Building and Housing technical investigation into the performance of three buildings in Christchurch.

The report released today covers the Pyne Gould Corporation, Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings. However, the technical investigation into the fourth and final building - the Canterbury Television (CTV) building is far more complex and will be part of a second report, which will not be completed until the end of this year or early 2012.

Changes are being made to Building Code documents to increase the seismic hazard factor for Canterbury and to require stronger foundations for buildings, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Department of Building and Housing has decided to increase the seismic hazard factor for the design of all buildings by 35 per cent from 0.22 to 0.3 based on the best scientific and structural engineering advice available.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed the Retirement Village Association’s announcement of a housing assistance package to for the former residents of Kate Sheppard Gardens.

“Kate Sheppard Gardens was severely damaged by the 22 February earthquake. Residents were evacuated in the immediate aftermath of the quake,” Mr Williamson said.

The Department of Building and Housing is undertaking a technical investigation into the performance of key buildings in Christchurch and the reasons that some of them collapsed, Minister for Building and Construction Maurice Williamson said today.

“The Department is inviting people with information and evidence about the performance of key buildings to contribute to this investigation, which will include the Canterbury TV and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings, the Forsyth Barr building and the Hotel Grand Chancellor.”

Confidence among consumers and accountability among builders are at the heart of moves to get more tradespeople licensed in Canterbury. 

"Owners of damaged Canterbury homes and buildings should be able to choose licensed practitioners to work on their properties", Maurice Williamson, Minister for Building & Construction said dur