An alleged bogus engineer who is accused of signing off 1000 New Zealand homes was met by homeowners and members of the building and construction industry in Taupō on Wednesday when he arrived at court for his first appearance.
Jonathan Beau Hall of Kodiak Consulting Ltd faced 109 forgery charges in the Taupō District Court.
It is alleged the Taupō-based engineering technologist completed documents using the identities and credentials of qualified structural engineers without their permission.
The documents signed included producer statements which provide assurance to councils a design meets Building Code and consenting requirements when signed by a chartered professional engineer.
Hall does not have the same level of qualifications as a chartered professional engineer.
Engineering NZ claims the alleged offending may have compromised the structural safety of some building projects across 42 councils in New Zealand from the Far North to Southland.
Taupō homeowner Mike Timmer, whose major renovation Hall allegedly signed off on, told Newshub it's "gut-wrenching" for alleged victims who now face costly bills to engage a structural engineer to rectify the problem.
"I'm a little angry - at the end of the day, I am fortunate enough I can probably afford to pay for it but I am a retired person and there must be other retired people out there who've got to do remedial works and can't afford it."
Timmer describes it as "a little bit akin to the leaky homes scenario - those people got compo [sic], I am not sure we will".
Auckland Council told Newshub it has found 42 affected properties, Taupō has about 400 and Waipa 67. Waikato District Council said it had 117 buildings and homes.
Rotorua Lakes Council identified 21 projects where Kodiak Consulting provided technical input.
These structural designs relate to residential builds and typically to part of the structure, retaining walls or geotechnical reports.
Other regions where Hall is accused of acting outside of his scope include Taranaki, central Hawke's Bay, Westland and Buller.
Newshub understands a note will now be added to the LIM reports of all affected properties allegedly signed off by Hall. It'll stay on the property file for good unless the affected homeowner pays to have it rectified.
Local Government NZ said it appreciates the situation is "undoubtedly concerning for impacted homeowners" and said each council is leading their local response.
"This issue affects hundreds of households and more than 40 councils... our priority is to support the affected councils so they can provide the relevant information to those affected," said Scott Necklen, the acting chief executive of Local Government NZ.
Hall is due back in court on November 28.
