Govt to push for inquiry into CTV building engineer

WELLINGTON: The Government will try to force New Zealand’s professional engineering body to resume its investigation into the civil engineer responsible for the collapsed CTV building in Christchurch when it goes to the High Court today.

A total of 115 people died when the building was destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch quake.

The engineering firm responsible for the building’s design was owned by Alan Reay.

In December 2012 a complaint was made by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) chief engineer to the Institute of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) about Dr Reay, and the design and construction of the CTV building.

Dr Reay was a member of IPENZ but resigned in February 2014.

After this, IPENZ decided not to pursue any disciplinary action against him as it considered it no longer had jurisdiction to deal with a former member.

A High Court decision in September 2014 regarding David Harding, the other engineer involved in the design of the CTV building, ruled that an investigation and disciplinary hearing could continue even when a member resigned.

In March 2015, MBIE sought a judicial review of the decision not to investigate Dr Reay.

Housing minister at the time Nick Smith said the collapse of the building rated as one of New Zealand’s worst engineering failures.

‘‘We believe the decision to drop the investigation into Dr Alan Reay after he resigned from IPENZ was flawed,’’ he said.

The CTV Families Group backed the move and said it was important the High Court address this, and test the mandate of a building sector professional body in disciplining one of its members, regardless of whether they had resigned.

The review has been set down for three days in Wellington. — RNZ