Hall, a Taupō-based engineering technologist, completed and signed documents using Chartered Professional Engineers’ identities and credentials without their permission. The documents include producer statements, which provide assurance to councils that a design meets Building Code and consenting requirements when signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Hall pleaded guilty to 112 charges of forgery in December 2023. On 10 May 2024, Judge Hollister-Jones sentenced Hall to four years and six months jail in Rotorua District Court. The judge also ordered Hall pay Engineering New Zealand $85,758.62, which will be distributed to affected councils.
Engineering New Zealand welcomes the sentence, believing it serves as a strong deterrent to this kind of serious misconduct and to abusing the protected title of Chartered Professional Engineer.
Engineering New Zealand has worked with affected councils to help them provide certainty to owners in their communities, and with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the NZ Police in their investigations.
Media releases
Engineering New Zealand press releases are listed below.
- Engineering New Zealand welcomes Hall sentencing – 10 May 2024
- Engineering Technologist JB Hall guilty of forgery – 19 December 2023
- Guidance for councils reviewing consented designs – 21 July 2023
- Over 40 councils affected by consenting concerns – 7 July 2023
- Consented designs under investigation – 29 June 2023
- List of affected councils
See Public information for further media coverage.
Public information
We are providing the public with information about how we are working with councils to help owners with impacted buildings in their communities.
For engineers, councils and architects
Information and guidance for engineers, councils and architects involved in the review of consented designs.
For owners
Our goal is to help councils provide certainty for owners as soon as we can. Find out more if you own an impacted property.
