Unqualified chartered engineer flouts rules and signs off hundreds of homes

The documents include producer statements, which are used to give councils assurance new designs will be or have been constructed to meet the Building Code and consent requirements when signed by a chartered professional engineer.

Engineering New Zealand says it has become aware of concerns an unqualified member has been completing and signing these documents and they may not be limited to just designs in these regions.

Police and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have been told and Engineering New Zealand chief executive Dr Richard Templer says the professional body is passing on any information to assist their investigations.

Engineering New Zealand is also working with councils and engineers to determine what is the best step now. “We are fully aware affected councils will want to provide owners in their communities with certainty about impacted designs as quickly as possible,” Templer says.

He says “chartered professional engineer” is a protected title and quality mark reserved for engineers who have committed to and been assessed for a given level of competency.

“We are committed to upholding that quality mark and take matters of alleged misrepresentation very seriously.”