Police investigating the collapse of the CTV building in the February 2011 earthquake will begin an examination of the South wall foundation and parts of the North wall foundation on the site where the building stood.

Contractors will begin work on Monday, August 1, and will dig eight test pits/trenches to allow soil specialists and engineers to examine the soil and foundations.

This site work is expected to be completed within the week and the site will then be reinstated to its former condition.

While this work is being carried out the area will be fenced and security will be in place limiting access to the site.

The process to physically re-build and test critical elements of the building structure which was announced by Police in September last year has now been completed.

The results of this testing have been peer reviewed and factored into the ongoing investigation.

The investigation is now nearing its closing stages.

The outcome of the investigation, and any decisions on criminal culpability, will be communicated first to the families and then publicly.

This is expected to occur later this year, however Police are unable to give a more definitive timeframe at this stage.

The families of the CTV victims have been advised of this update.

We again thank them for their support and understanding while Police has worked through this long, very complex and technical investigation.

SOURCE: New Zealand Police