Christchurch Royal Commissioners announced

The Government has named Sir Ron Carter and Associate Professor Richard Fenwick on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into inner-city building failure during Christchurch's February earthquake.

The inquiry will focus on badly-hit inner-city buildings like the CTV and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings, where there was significant loss of life, but will also have a broader scope to look into the overall adequacy of building regulations.

The pair will join chairman High Court judge Justice Mark Cooper on the commission.

Sir Ron has a background in the engineering sector as former managing director of Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd.

He is a current director of Rugby New Zealand 2011 and has governance experience, including chairing the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mr Fenwick is an Adjunct Associate Professor in civil engineering at the University of Canterbury. He is a leader in the field of earthquake engineering and is internationally known for his work in the design of seismic-resistance reinforced concrete structures.

Prime Minister John Key said the Royal Commission's terms of reference had also been finalised.

The commission will look specifically at what factors led some central city buildings to fail severely; why some buildings' failures caused injury and death; and why buildings differed as to the extent to which they failed and caused injury or death.

The commission will also look into the adequacy of current legal and best-practice requirements of the design, construction and maintenance of buildings in central business districts around the country.

It will report its final findings by April 11, 2012 and will release an interim report after six months.

The report would include recommendations for:

* measures necessary or desirable to prevent or minimise the failure of buildings in New Zealand due to the earthquakes;

* the costs of those measures;

* and the adequacy of legal and best-practice requirements for building design, construction and maintenance.

The Commission would be supported by the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson would be the minister in charge.

The inquiry is expected to cost about $6 million.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority legislation would be introduced to Parliament tomorrow under urgency.

Mr Key said the Government has support for the legislation.

The Labour Party wants amendments to the legislation and is still considering whether it will support the bill.