Alan Reay responds to IPENZ

Dr Alan Reay wishes to respond to today's media release by IPENZ in relation to the IPENZ investigations against him.

IPENZ has reported that it is no longer investigating Dr Reay as a member because Dr Reay resigned as a member of IPENZ on 28 February 2014.

Dr Reay says:

"My resignation had nothing to do with bringing an end to the disciplinary processes against me. Prior to my resignation I was fully committed to the investigations and co-operating with IPENZ in all respects. I expected to see the processes through to a conclusion. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the loss of life in the Christchurch earthquakes and the impact on grieving families.

"I cannot undo the past. I have been and continue to be absolutely committed to ensuring that every possible lesson is learned from this tragedy.

"I was (and am) confident that my conduct at all times complied with my professional obligations, both as a member of IPENZ and as a Chartered Professional Engineer. I have willingly taken part in the Royal Commission hearing to help understand why the CTV Building collapsed and the investigative processes.

However, unfortunately as a result of various events I came to have absolutely no confidence in the IPENZ disciplinary process. By February I had come to have a complete lack of faith and trust in IPENZ generally. I did not act out of any fear of what might happen in the future.

"Some of my key concerns at the way IPENZ has handled matters include:

1. IPENZ has been ineffectual in dealing with real issues that affect public safety since the earthquakes:

In particular IPENZ is aware that the 34% of NBS threshold set by the Government for strengthening of earthquake prone buildings is unacceptably low for many types of buildings. IPENZ has failed to take steps to obtain Government action to properly address this issue.

2. IPENZ responded negatively to my requests for engagement with the complainants in the complaint against me: At an early stage in the disciplinary process I repeatedly offered to meet or otherwise engage with the complainants (who were family members of victims of the CTV Building collapse) to discuss their concerns. IPENZ chose not to action my repeated requests.

3. Throughout the disciplinary process IPENZ has acted in unreasonable and unfair ways towards me (a view my legal advisers agree with): For example, documents I have obtained through the process show that IPENZ had already decided key issues before receiving my submissions which were to be filed on an agreed date. In one complaint this was before I had even been informed about it. IPENZ has not provided me with documents I have asked for and am entitled to. It failed to tell me about the existence of documents which are directly relevant. It cut short a meeting with me and indicated that the meeting would be reconvened, but then failed to do so before making important decisions. In short, the disciplinary processes have been conducted in such a way as to be entirely unfair to me and my rights.

4. IPENZ improperly released confidential information about the complaints and inquiry processes against me to the media in July 2013: This occurred without my consent and was contrary to IPENZ's own policies limiting disclosure of complaints and inquiries.

5. IPENZ failed to support its members in Christchurch after the Canterbury Earthquakes: At no time have I had the support, advice, or public defence a member of a professional society should receive. Both I and other engineers came under close scrutiny at the hearings of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal
Commission, including those who volunteered to assess buildings in the mmediate aftermath of the earthquakes. This needed to happen, but there was no support provided by IPENZ to its members through these difficult and unprecedented times.

"The result of these and other concerns was that I no longer had confidence in my professional body and I tendered my resignation. I did so with much regret having dedicated my time from before I left school in the 1960s until now to training for, undertaking research and practising in the engineering profession. Until these events I was proud to be a member and a Fellow of our professional body.

"I remain registered as a Chartered Professional Engineer. Since my resignation from IPENZ I have continued to comply with the ethical standards of engineering. I have sought to complete my obligations to clients and the public and to assist in training young engineers.

"As far as I am able to, I will continue to advance engineering knowledge, undertake engineering research and assist in the education of young engineers."

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