Alan Reay Consultants Ltd

Engineering Firm that designed the CTV building.

Stella Cheersmith

Alan Reay Consultants Ltd was the company that designed the CTV building in 1986, led by owner Alan Reay. While Reay gave evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry, he criticised the Department of Building and Housing’s report on the building and opposed the IPENZ investigation. David Harding, an employee of Alan Reay Consultants Ltd who completed the building designs, received criticism for his lack of experience designing multi-storey buildings. During the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Reay issued an apology to the families of those who died in the CTV building. The engineering firm rebranded under the new name Engenium in 2013, and still operates today.

(See also the IPENZ Investigation page and the Engineering New Zealand news section)

History:

• Christchurch Press 1 March 2014: Section C, Page 1 | “A terrible tragedy.” - This detailed article goes into the case against Reay and his firm and explores why he became the face of blame. It includes a summary of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, opinions from Reay’s colleagues and engineers around the country, and information on his legacy as an engineer. Continued on Page 3.
• CTV: Alan Reay complaint – timeline of events | Engineering NZ - Provides a timeline of the ongoing Alan Reay complaint, from the design of the CTV building in 1986 to the hearing date in December 2023.

Credit: The Press, Fairfax Media New Zealand. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/327233

Resources:

• The Star 13 July 2012 (Page 3) | "Report criticised." - The article details Reay’s criticisms of the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) report on the collapse of the CTV building. He stated that “several factors were insufficiently accounted for in the report including the change of use of the building over time, and the structural impact of cumulative damage from aftershocks.” Reay argued for further testing of the building to determine all possible reasons for the collapse.
• Christchurch Press 17 July 2012: Section A, Page 3 | “Crucial CTV files may have been dumped.” - Gives information on Reay’s part in the Royal Commission hearing, and the possibility that he disposed of relevant information on the CTV building.
• Christchurch Press 1 August 2012: Section A, Page 5 (Christchurch Edition) | “Engineer was up to job, says Reay." "Building design ‘had problems’.” - Gives an account of both Reay and Harding’s recent time in the Royal Commission hearing and focuses on the discrepancies and contradictions in their experiences with the design process.
• Christchurch Press 2 August 2012: Section A, Page 3 | “Firm’s owner asked to do homework.” - This short article describes the recent happenings in the Royal Commission hearing, when Reay admitted he hadn't listened to all the evidence given to the inquiry. The lawyer representing the interests of the victims’ families asked Reay to read all the relevant documents before he was scheduled to give evidence next.
• CTV designer apologises to families for the first time | RNZ - This report from Radio New Zealand National provides an update on the Royal Commission hearing, where Alan Reay apologised to the families of those who were killed in the CTV collapse. This audio file contains some context of Reay’s history with the Building, as well as clips of Reay delivering the apology and Quake Families Co-Chairman Maan Alkaisi’s response to the apology.
  • CTV designer apologises to families for the first time | RNZ - This audio file follows on from the previous report. It contains an interview with Stephen Todd, a specialist in civil liability, who discusses Reay’s apology from a legal standpoint and outlines what actions – if any – the families of the CTV victims could take against Reay.
• Christchurch Press 8 August 2012: Section A, Page 1 | “CTV victims’ families query apology motive.” - Details the recent apology that Reay gave to the families of those killed in the CTV building. Reay delivered the apology during the Royal Commission of Inquiry, but some relatives of the victims questioned the timing of the apology and how sincere it was.
• Christchurch Press 16 August 2012: Section A, Page 2 | “Engineer ‘never voiced concern’.” - Gives further details on the relationship between Reay and Harding, including Reay’s opinion on Harding’s competence and several quotes from Reay about the evidence Harding gave during the inquiry.
• Christchurch Press 7 September 2012: Section A, Page 3 | “Reay’s firm not to blame, says QC." "Critical CTV failings found in design work – lawyer.” - Two articles that outline some of the closing submissions given by both sides in the Royal Commission of Inquiry. Reay’s lawyer maintained that his firm was not to blame for the collapse, but that it was the result of pre-existing damage from the September 4 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The counsel assisting the commission argued against the insinuation that there was some agenda amongst the Royal Commission to blame the CTV collapse entirely on the engineers who designed it, and claimed there were a number of factors at play.
• The Star 7 September 2012 (Page 5) | "CTV design head 'Nelsonian'." - Provides an update from the Royal Commission of Inquiry that looked into design issues with the CTV building that were discovered four years after it was built. A “pre-purchase” review of the building was undertaken in 1990, and remedial work to address some of the issues was completed the following year. The article includes statements from John Hare, the engineer who carried out the review, who recounted his experience with Alan Reay Consultants Ltd.
• Christchurch Press 11 December 2012: Section A, Page 5 | “Reay not given report copy in advance.” - This article describes Reay’s response to the recently released report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry. Reay said he had not been sent an advanced copy of the report, but would read it when he received it.

Credit: The Press, Fairfax Medi New Zealand. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/223496

• Christchurch Press 17 September 2013: Section A, Page 3 | “Reay calls for end to IPENZ probe.” - Details Reay’s response to three complaints brought forward to IPENZ that resulted in an investigation of his firm. Reay was challenging two of the three complaints and claimed that IPENZ did not have the jurisdiction to conduct the investigation.
• Christchurch Press 9 January 2014: Section A, Page 1 | “Stigma behind CTV firm’s rebrand – father.” - A brief report that covers the rebranding of Alan Reay’s firm, now called Engenium. While Reay was no longer director of the firm, the four remaining directors included employees of his old firm, and his wife, Barbara.
• Christchurch Press 12 March 2014: Section A, Page 2 | “Engineer dodges CTV action.” - Reports on Reay’s resignation from IPENZ, which complicated their investigation. Chief Executive of IPENZ Andrew Cleland said that they had “no jurisdiction to impose disciplinary penalties against an engineer who is not a member of the institution.” The complaint against Reay would likely be dropped.
• Complaint against CTV engineer being heard | RNZ - This audio file from Radio New Zealand National provides an update on the complaint lodged with IPENZ (now Engineering New Zealand). The report outlines how the institution was able to renew their investigation into Reay’s firm despite his resignation nearly ten years earlier. The Disciplinary Hearing would begin on 4 December 2023.
• CTV Building – Alan Reay complaint upheld | Engineering NZ - This media release announces the decision of the Engineering New Zealand Disciplinary Committee to uphold the complaint against Alan Reay. The Committee ordered that Reay be admonished, fined $750 and pay costs of $1,000 – the maximum amounts possible under the rules at the time the building was designed. The Committee also advised Reay to consider issuing a public apology for his inadequate supervision of the CTV design process.

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