Where There's a Will

This is one of the most appalling articles I have ever read. It should be removed immediately, I can't believe a journalist who I'm quite sure has absolutely no knowledge of structural engineering was allowed to publish an article like this. There are a lot of over worked stressed structural engineers out there working extremely hard to get work done. Perhaps a few people have let the side down, but it doesn't mean to say all engineers are unprofessional. Unfortunately the whole thing has turned into a witch hunt and blame game.

@elbee 24#. I would also add our smugness over our 'world-class' earthquake standards to your post. It appears that apart from the expected failure of older buildings, many very new buildings were/are on the verge of collaspse. Just today they have started demolition of Park Terrace apartments, built only 10 years ago, they could collapse at any time. Other very new failed buildings, due for demolition include the 'useless' Gallery Apartments, No.1 Victoria Square and The Establishment Apartments, all beyond repair yet up to 100 percent of the building code and completed in the last 5 years. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

New Zealand architecture and engineering has been nothing but an abhorrent failure with poor structural integrity and poorly engineered foundations. I can only hope we get 'world-class' foreign architects/engineers for the rebuild. The Japanese can construct 70 level skyscrapers that withstood the mag8.9 and they swayed like trees in the breeze. All are reoccupied. ACC strips the community of their right to litigate for instances such as this article raises, whether you agree with it or not.

The "gut feelings" of workers and witnesses in the commission hearings have proved the method of engineering assessments wrong. This can not be disputed by the profession. They have now gone to the other extreme as a result of the commission, meaning rebuilding may be from a blank slate after all in the interest of safety.