CTV: Apology has come a bit late - Widower

A widower says an apology from the head of the company that designed Christchurch's CTV building should have come sooner.

Alan Reay offered an apology to the families of those who lost loved ones at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission yesterday.

Murray Grant's wife Jane died when the building collapsed in last year's February earthquake.

He says the apology helps a little, but it's a bit late.

"He's been in to give evidence now for about the third time. It would have been nicer if it had been the first day he came to the inquiry."

Meanwhile, the former construction manager of all Williams Construction sites in Christchurch, including the CTV building, has told the Commission that issues with the CTV building's construction and design should have been picked up by those closer to the job.

Gerald Shirtcliff is giving evidence via video link from Australia.

He had previously refused to be a witness.

He was asked by the Commission's lawyer why, as the construction manager, he knew nothing of serious construction flaws with the CTV building.

"No I wouldn't have thought that would have been my responsibility, I would have thought there were others that were responsible to ensure that all those details were complied with."

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