Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Engineer pressured to sign off CTV plans - widow

Updated at 7:46 am on 3 August 2012

A Christchurch City Council engineer who signed off the plans for the Canterbury Television building told his wife he was pressured to do so even though he thought the design was dubious.

The evidence has been heard at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission investigating the fatal collapse of the CTV building during the February 2011 earthquake.

The CTV building's design was approved by Graeme Tapper, who is now dead.

On Thursday, his widow, Patricia Tapper, told the commission her husband believed it was only a matter of time before the building fell during an earthquake.

Mrs Tapper said he signed the building's permit because of pressure from his boss, Bryan Bluck, who has also since died.

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