Quake commissioners, terms of reference announced

6:04 pm on 11 April 2011

The Prime Minister has released more details about the Royal Commission into the collapse of buildings in central Christchurch during the February earthquake.

John Key on Monday announced two commissioners to join the chair, Justice Cooper.

They are engineer and businessman Sir Ron Carter, and retired civil engineering academic Richard Fenwick.

Mr Key says the Royal Commission will be overseen by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson and supported by the Department of Internal Affairs.

He also announced the terms of reference, saying the Royal Commission will look at why some buildings failed, as well as the best practice for earthquake safety.

The Royal Commission will report back by April 2012, with an interim report in six months, he says.