In addition to being the expression of a civilization, heritage buildings also carry artistic legacy, exemplify the excellence in craftmanship and display technological innovations that are relevant of their times. The transmission of their tangible and intangible heritage through the multifaceted acts of conservation is therefore paramount. As historic buildings are threatened by several hazards, such as natural disasters and resources shortage that can impact upon their retention and conservation, it is important to develop greater resilience for these non-renewable resources. This paper discusses the challenges of the New Zealand built heritage, which is faced by the global effects of climate change as well as the impacts of a high level of seismic vulnerability, demonstrating that an integrated approach to seismic and energy retrofits can lead to greater resilience and resource efficiency. Two case studies are discussed: on the one hand, a comparison between Lambton Quay and Cuba Street precincts in Wellington demonstrates a developing urban strategy of seismic risk mitigation that features adaptation, alteration and remodelling of historic unreinforced masonry buildings since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. On the other hand, the proposed retrofit of the Hunter Building in Wellington demonstrates the feasibility of achieving significant energy savings by integrating seismic strengthening with energy retrofit measures such as envelope insulation, secondary glazing and airtightness improvements. This research offers a contribution to the scholarly and professional discourse around the multiple linkages across heritage conservation, seismic risk mitigation and climate change pressure, informing possible strategies for future risk management, conservation plans and retrofit projects and making heritage more resilient and future-proof.