Investigations
Several investigations were conducted after the CTV building collapsed, ranging from external Government inquiries to internal agency investigations to media explorations of the individuals involved.
- Two Coronial Inquests took place in the aftermath of the earthquake. The first was to formally identify the remaining bodies recovered at the CTV site. The second Coronial Inquest – conducted in two parts – was to determine the cause of death for the CTV victims, some of whom were alive for hours after the earthquake. The hearings concluded at the end of 2012 and Coroner Gordon Matenga published a report of his findings in March 2014.
- The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry was established after the collapse of many buildings – including the CTV building – raised questions about the design and construction of these structures. The Inquiry began in April 2011, and concluded in November 2012, publishing three reports in seven volumes. The third report contained their investigation into the CTV building.
- The Inquiry called into question the company that designed the CTV building, Alan Reay Consultants Ltd. The head of the company, Alan Reay, was summoned to give evidence at the Royal Commission hearing and was the focus of an investigation by IPENZ. He became the face of the CTV’s controversial history and was blamed by the general public for the collapse.
- Gerald Shirtcliff was another figure who came into the public eye during the Royal Commission of Inquiry. Shirtcliff was the Construction Manager for the company that built the CTV building and was exposed as a fraud when The Press conducted an investigation into his background. Shirtcliff had stolen a colleague's identity in order to obtain his Master’s degree in engineering in 1970.
Credit: The Press, Fairfax Media New Zealand. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/285439
- The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ, now Engineering New Zealand) conducted two investigations connected to the CTV collapse. The investigation of David Harding, the engineer who did the initial designs for the building, concluded that he was not sufficiently experienced to have made the designs on his own. The investigation into Alan Reay, head of the company that designed the CTV building, was delayed due to complications and a report has not yet been published.
- The Fire Service conducted their own internal investigation into the emergency response at the CTV site. A review was published by Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling, who criticised the service’s lack of organisation and leadership following the earthquake, particularly at the CTV site. During the Coronial Inquest, Fire Service Operations and Training Director Paul McGill apologised for these shortcomings.
- The Royal Commission of Inquiry and IPENZ investigation raised questions about individual responsibility for the CTV collapse, and the potential for criminal convictions. The New Zealand Police launched their own investigation into the building and its history, but ultimately, no charges were made.
To explore these investigations further, click on one of the information pages in the right-hand column.