Professor Maan Alkaisi represents families of those who died in the CTV building collapse in 2011. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
Before the collapse of the CTV building, there were known deficiencies with the design of the building. <\/p>\n
One hundred and fifteen people, including Alkaisi\u2019s wife, Dr Maysoon Abbas, perished when the six-storey building pancaked in seconds during the 2011 earthquake.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of lessons that are not being learned, and that\u2019s what triggered me to say something about it [the Mount tragedy],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Davison\u2019s review found systemic failures at the council and didn\u2019t blame any individual \u2013 a conclusion that frustrated Alkaisi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been through this with the CTV collapse, with the Pike River explosion and there are all sorts of excuses to get out of any accountability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Six people died when a landslide smashed into the Mount Maunganui campground toilet and shower block on January 22.<\/p>\n
TCC chief executive Marty Grenfell, who refused to resign after Davison\u2019s report, has said he\u2019s best placed to rectify problems at the council and oversee the review\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for Luxon told the Herald the TCC\u2019s commitment to implement Davison\u2019s recommendations was welcome. <\/p>\n
\u201cLocal Government Minister Simon Watts has written to all councils seeking an assurance that problems such as those identified in Tauranga do not exist on a wider scale,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Luxon\u2019s spokeswoman didn\u2019t respond to questions about Alkaisi\u2019s request for Government intervention and oversight. <\/p>\n
Questions over Davison\u2019s public statements<\/p>\n
The Herald revealed last Friday<\/a> that a 2025 geotechnical report from engineering consultancy HD Geo, which warned of a risk to life at the campground, was sent to multiple councillors who did not read it. <\/p>\n Former TCC councillor John Robson said councillors often didn\u2019t read reports \u201cuntil the last minute\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s unacceptable, I think it\u2019s unprofessional, but it\u2019s not unusual,\u201d he told the Herald. <\/p>\n He also questioned Davison\u2019s public statements when he announced his review\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n During last Tuesday\u2019s press conference, when asked by the Herald whether any reports warning of landslides, rockfalls and fatalities reached people in senior positions at the council, Davison said, \u201cThat\u2019s the very point of my report. It didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as I\u2019ve been able to ascertain, in the more recent period where it\u2019s been more evident, the reports have not gone to senior people at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Grenfell backed up the comments, saying reports warning of risks were not elevated to senior people who could ensure action was taken.<\/p>\n However, the Herald has revealed the 2025 HD Geo report was authorised by the TCC\u2019s then general manager of community services, Barbara Dempsey.<\/p>\nPaul Davison, KC, was the author of the Tauranga City Council’s review into the death of six people at Mount Maunganui. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n