For immediate release
25 July 2032
UPDATE - Council review completed
Council staff have completed the review of documentation, and are pleased to advise that there have been no impacts of the fraudulent producer statements related to the engineering technologist Jonathan (Jon) Beau Hall, director of Kodiak Consulting Limited submitted for consents.
Council believes there may have been one applicant associated with Kodiak Consulting Limited. However, that paperwork was never produced to Council via the building consent process. Council intends to contact that applicant to advise of the fraudulent proceedings taken by Engineering New Zealand.
Any concerns or enquires regarding work by this person and/or company, can be directed to the Council's Building Control team on 07 306 9009.
[ENDS]
7 July 2023
Council review to provide certainty that no properties affected
Kawerau District Council is aware and informed of the active investigation into suspected fraudulent producer statements released by the professional body for engineers, Engineering New Zealand, today on Friday July 7, 2023.
A review of the information indicating suspected fraudulent documents provided to Kawerau District Council has been completed. None of the suspected documents have been produced to our Building Consent Team.
Council is now undertaking a complete review of our building consents covering the period of concern to provide certainty that no properties are affected.
[ENDS]
For more information, please refer to the following Media Release by Engineering New Zealand:
EMBARGOED until 12pm Friday, 7 July 2023
Over 40 councils affected by consenting concerns
Engineering New Zealand says concerns about building consents having been improperly signed off affect over 40 councils, with Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer saying supporting councils is “a clear priority”.
This follows recent allegations that one of its members, engineering technologist Jonathan (Jon) Beau Hall, director of Kodiak Consulting Limited, has completed and signed documents using others’ identities and credentials without their permission. The documents include producer statements, which provide assurance to councils that a design meets Building Code and consenting requirements when signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Templer says, “This is a tough time for councils and their communities, and I feel for the many owners who are anxious to know if their properties are impacted.
“I understand over one thousand properties may be impacted by the alleged misappropriations, and it’s extremely disappointing to see allegations of such scale.”
Templer says many engineers have readily taken on “a huge amount of extra work” to help local councils fully understand the implications for owners. “Exactly how a given property is impacted is likely to be specific, so Engineering New Zealand is also working with councils to develop guidance to classify the likelihood and types of risk to impacted properties,” he says.
“Councils are a first port of call for communities and ultimately accountable for their processes – but this is a significant task and complex situation. Our goal is to help councils provide certainty for owners as soon as we can, although it will likely take some time to work things through,” says Templer.
New Zealand has 69 authorities, including councils, that can issue building consents. In recent years Engineering New Zealand has made its producer statements available online. Benefits for engineers and consenting authorities can include quality assurance, consistency and efficiency, secure signing within that system, and real-time updates when changes are made.
Templer says owners with concerns about their properties should contact their local council first. Additionally, Engineering New Zealand’s website has a public search to check whether members and Chartered Professional Engineers have outstanding notices against them.
“‘Chartered Professional Engineer’ is a protected title and quality mark for engineers who have undergone a competency assessment, and one that councils should be able to trust” says Templer.
“As such, we take the matter of alleged misrepresentation very seriously, and are passing on any relevant information to the Police and relevant authorities,” he says.
Affected councils – current as of 7 July 2023
Auckland Council, Buller District Council, Carterton District Council, Central Hawkes Bay District Council, Central Otago District Council, Christchurch City Council, Far North District Council, Gisborne District Council, Hamilton City Council, Hauraki District Council, Hurunui District Council, Kaipara District Council, Kawerau District Council, Marlborough District Council, Masterton District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, New Plymouth District Council, Ōpōtiki District Council, Ōtorohanga District Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Rangitīkei District Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Ruapehu District Council, Selwyn District Council, South Taranaki District Council, South Waikato District Council, South Wairarapa District Council, Southland District Council, Taupō District Council, Tauranga City Council, Thames Coromandel District Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Waikato District Council, Waimakariri District Council, Waipā District Council, Wairoa District Council, Waitomo District Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Westland District Council, Whakatāne District Council, Whanganui District Council, Whangārei District Council
Notes to reporters
Further background to this story can be found in our release Consented designs under investigation.
Engineering New Zealand is New Zealand's professional body for engineers, with some 22,000 members. We represent – and regulate – our members. We also act as the Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers.
Our searchable database of members and Chartered Professionals Engineers can be found at www.engineeringnz.org/public-tools/find-engineer
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Lachlan McKenzie on 021 479 885.