CTV inquiry report handed over to Government

Police search through rubble of the collapsed CTV building looking for survivors, shortly after the devastating quake. Photo / Geoff Sloan

The royal commission of inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes has been completed today, with the third and final part of its report handed to the governor-general.

The commission, chaired by High Court judge Justice Mark Cooper, was established more than 20 months ago.

It heard months of evidence, taking testimony from dozens of witnesses, including bereaved family members, building collapse survivors, engineers, architects, designers, contractors, academics and civil servants.

The governor-general will pass the third part of the report to the Government, which will decide how and when it is released.

The full report is seven volumes. The final part is three volumes on the collapse of the CTV building, which was addressed in eight weeks of hearings.

It also deals with roles and responsibilities in the building sector, including the assessment of buildings after earthquakes, the training of civil engineers and the organisation and regulation of the engineering profession, the building consent process and local government management of earthquake risk.

The commission does not determine legal rights and liabilities and its recommendations are not binding.

In a statement released today, the commission said it would not be commenting on the contents of the report.

The commission delivered part one of its final report - three volumes covering the collapse of the PGC building in which 18 people died and 70 technical recommendations - in June.

It was released by the Government on August 23.

Part two was delivered on October 10 and has not yet been released.