Wellington likes to style itself Wellywood because of its film industry. They have more than that in common. Here's the LA Times on earthquake risk from concrete buildings in Los Angeles. They also report on Christchurch and the dangers of non-ductile concrete buildings. Here's a map of earthquake-prone buildings in Los Angeles to match Wellington's.
I've been more worried about Wellington's unreinforced masonry than I have been about collapsing concrete buildings. Unreinforced masonry tends to fall outwards onto pedestrians and cars - building owners have only weak incentives to avoid those kinds of costs absent external compulsion or liability.
