Canterbury University has defended accepting a large donation from Alan Reay, the principal of the company that designed the CTV building which collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake.
Some 115 people died when the building pancaked in the February 2011 earthquake.
The university says its relationship with Dr Reay, who gave a donation of $120,000 to the tertiary institution in May 2012, dates back to before the Canterbury quakes.
A spokesperson says it is aware of developments concerning Dr Reay since the quakes, and the legal and moral aspects of whether the money should be returned have been considered.
The spokesperson says the money will be used for student research into structural and seismic engineering.
