Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission – Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha

Those who lost relatives and friends in the 22 February earthquake can be assured that there will be a very thorough inquiry into the failure of buildings that resulted in loss of life.
Chair, Justice Mark Cooper
 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

29 November 2012

Quakes Royal Commission Completes Delivery of Final Report

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has today completed its inquiry by delivering the third and final part of its final report to the Governor-General.

Part three, which consists of the last three of a total of seven volumes for the full report, contains the results of the Commission’s investigation into the collapse of the CTV building which claimed 115 lives in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It also deals with roles and responsibilities in the building sector including the assessment of buildings after earthquakes, the training of civil engineers and the organisation and regulation of the engineering profession, the building consent process and local government management of earthquake risk.

The Commission does not determine legal rights and liabilities. Its recommendations are not binding on the Government.

The Governor-General will provide the report to the Government. It is the Government’s decision as to how and when the report is released.

The Commission will not be making any further comment about the contents of the final report.

END

Background

The terms of reference enabled the Commission to deliver its final report in stages.

The Commission delivered part one of its final report on 29 June 2012. That part consisted of volumes 1, 2 and 3 and included the results of the investigation into the PGC building in which 18 people died as well as 70 technical recommendations. It was released by the Government on 23 August 2012 and is available on the Commission’s website http://canterbury.royalcommission.govt.nz/

Part two of the final report was delivered on 10 October 2012. It consisted of volume 4 containing findings of the Commission’s investigation into the failure of 21 buildings (and a free-standing masonry wall) that caused 42 deaths. Volume 4 also recommends practice, policy and legislative changes to help minimise the risks to public safety from earthquake-prone buildings in earthquakes. It has relevance for cities and towns in New Zealand that have earthquake-prone buildings, particularly unreinforced masonry buildings. It has not yet been released by the Government.

Media Contact  

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has completed its inquiry so can no longer be contacted. For information about the final report please contact:

Ben Thomas
Press secretary
Attorney General’s office
Ben.Thomas@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 0274 943-579 or 04 817-9763 
Email: Ben.Thomas@parliament.govt.nz