The Earthquake Commission is welcoming a decision by the country's professional engineering council to dismiss all complaints against one of the commission's top engineers.
Construction and rebuild work continues in Christchurch following the region's devastating earthquake in 2011. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The Chartered Professional Engineers Council (CPEC) has quashed all complaints about the work of Graeme Robinson in Canterbury since the earthquakes.
Mr Robinson had appealed against a three-year suspension imposed by the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ).
The commission's chief executive, Ian Simpson, said the council has found that Mr Robinson is an expert in assessing earthquake damage.
However, Mr Simpson said he accepted the original complainants were upset by the assessment process, and the commission apologised for any distress they felt.
He said that in responding to the earthquakes, the commission did not always meet homeowners' expectations.
IPENZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said the institution was disappointed at the decision, but would not appeal against it.
Ms Freeman-Greene said CPEC advised IPENZ of its decision in mid-July, and the appeal period expired on Friday.
She said IPENZ had been unable to discuss the case until CPEC officially publicised its decision.
She said it sought professional legal advice and carefully considered all options before deciding not to appeal against the ruling to the district court.
