1 Nov 2024
“I feel for owners who have been informed there may be issues with their properties that require further investigation,” said Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer.
Templer made the comments in response to concerns raised by Christchurch City Council to owners there may be issues with designs in which Adrian Collis, a former Chartered Professional Engineer, was involved.
Templer said Engineering New Zealand acted quickly to tell councils that designs by Mr Collis may be cause for concern, saying, “We take engineering standards seriously and wanted to let councils know that they may wish to check designs by Mr Collis that they had consented.”
Questions about Mr Collis’s designs were raised through regular reassessment, which is a requirement of all Chartered Professional Engineers. As a Chartered Professional Engineer, Mr Collis had to undertake a regular reassessment to maintain registration. Reassessment includes an engineer providing samples of their work – and this is where questions of competence were raised as the samples did not meet the required standard for competence.
Templer said, “The sample contained designs that wouldn’t meet Building Code requirements for seismic engineering – but this doesn’t mean there’s necessarily something wrong with every design, and there’s no complaint against Mr Collis acting improperly.
“Engineering New Zealand encourages owners to take any letter they may have received as an advisory, and that any owner with a concern can consider getting an opinion from a Chartered Professional Engineer." The register of Chartered Professional Engineers can be found on the Registration Authority's website.
“We’re also ready to support councils if they have designs by Mr Collis that they wish to review,” Templer said.
Notes to reporters
- Engineering New Zealand is New Zealand's professional body for engineers, representing over 23,000 members. We represent – and regulate – our members and are the Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers.
- A Statement of Professional Opinion (revised 29 November 2024) provides a common framework for engineers to evaluate and communicate key factors and risks in impacted buildings and sites. It can be used where a PS2 is unable to be signed because the design being reviewed does not comply with the relevant provisions of the Building Code.
- Find out how an engineer can help your story and see our spokespeople: https://www.engineeringnz.org/public-tools/media/
- For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Lachlan McKenzie on 021 479 885 or email media@engineeringnz.org
