There are calls for a three star quake rating system to be trialled on buildings to promote higher standard in design.

It comes as the state of Wellington's earthquake damaged buildings looks increasingly dire.

A similar rating system has recently been implemented in California.

US resiliency council director Ron Mayes told Mike Hosking the new system would have ratings for safety, damage and recovery.

He said that's more thorough than New Zealand's system which really only focuses on being life-safe.

Mr Mayes said there's something seriously wrong with how the Statistics New Zealand building fared in Monday's earthquake because the design and construction should've performed better.

LISTEN ABOVE: US resiliency council director Ron Mayes spoke with Mike Hosking