The general manager of The Press newspaper has rejected claims he was pushing hard for the company to re-occupy its historic central Christchurch building after it was red stickered following a large aftershock on Boxing Day 2010.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes is investigating the circumstances surrounding the failure of the building in the 22 February quake. One person died and several others were seriously injured.
The newspaper's general manager, Andrew Boyle, told the hearing comments made in a statement by the director of engineering firm Holmes Consulting, John Hare, are false.
He says he was not pushing to get back into the building.
"Rather, we were looking for clarity as to the implications of the various developments post-Boxing Day, and the need to ensure a safe working environment for my staff far outweighed any imperative to resume normal operations".
Mr Boyle believes a misunderstanding between himself and Mr Hare regarding how much of the building was red stickered may have led to Mr Hare's comments.
Engineers deemed the newspaper building to be safe to occupy after structural bracing had been added.
Earlier, the Royal Commission heard from a woman who was inside The Press building when it collapsed during the February earthquake.
Ms Magee was working on the fourth floor not far from Adrienne Lindsay, who was killed when the roof collapsed.
Ms Magee related how she felt unsafe working there after the Boxing Day aftershock and often discussed her concerns about cracks in the walls with her colleagues.
She says she knew the cracks were significant and was particularly concerned about cracking around a door frame in her office.
Stacey Herbert, who worked on the building's top floor, is also scheduled to give evidence.
Her legs were so badly injured in the collapse that both had to be amputated.
