The Mayor of Invercargill has expressed surprise that nobody will face criminal charges over the collapse of Stadium Southland.
The Invercargill venue's roof caved in under the weight of up to 600 tonnes of snow in 2010 during one of the worst storms to hit the province in decades.
A Department of Building and Housing report, released last month, found that the stadium fell well short of safety standards and its roof should not have failed.
The report also confirmed that remedial work to fix sagging roof trusses was inadequate, and welding was either missing or not up to standard.
Those findings were referred to police, but they now say they have not found any evidence of criminal liability and their investigation's over.
Invercargill's mayor, Tim Shadbolt, says it certainly looked to him like the police would lay charges.
"It's probably very difficult to actually pinpoint who was responsible, although the report condemned the structure of the building, it didn't really name names as to anyone being criminally liable."
The owners of the stadium, meanwhile, say they are delighted nobody will face criminal charges over its catastrophic collapse.
Southland Leisure Centre Trust's chair Acton Smith says he's pleased with that.
"Personally I'm delighted and my understanding would be, because nobody was hurt - and we were so extraordinarily fortunate that nobody was hurt when it collapsed - that I presume that's one of the reasons behind the police not laying charges."
Mr Shadbolt says liability for the collapse will now be fought out in court.
The stadium's owners are suing Invercargill City Council for $27 million over the collapse.
