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Structural Engineer consultation

We have engaged an Architect to help design our house renovations. They have advised us that we need a structural engineer to consult us on some aspects, see below, further documentation can be provided as well: 1) Decks: The decks are in very poor condition and the structural connection details to the house are suspect. Recommend staying off these decks until further advice from an qualified Structural Engineer. While the report provided by Riley Consultants for the Unauthorised Work Review does refer to the decks being Structurally ok, they have only commented on member sizes and not connection details. They do note that the members are not to the 3604 Standard. 2) Retaining Walls to the Garden end of your site: The ground level has been brought up and retained on your site in the order of 1.5m to 2m. The Poles I sighted looked on the light side for this degree of retaining. One of the Building Reports also noted that there is some decay to these posts and that a Structural Engineer needs to be engaged. We concur with this advice. This Retaining wall does appear to have been permitted (Council Consent) in 1988 which means that it has been legally established which should mean an easier track through council should it need to be replaced however there may be Resource Consent implications with the retaining being right on the boundaries. I will check with the Planners if they can advise on this aspect. 3) Supporting Structure to Upper floor Level & Bracing: The 1987 Consented Structure has not been built. This can been seen in the Timber beams evident on the Garages and the Rumpus room - this structure was intended to be steel members. The Front waterproofed deck also appears to be different to what was drawn. There are large areas of the lower level which don't appear to be braced with a suitable wall diaphragm material (Bracing would now usually be performed by GIB linings). If the exposed structure and connections in the garage is anything to go by I have concerns regarding the integrity of the work to the lower level and so recommend a Structural Engineer review it and advise on temporary measures to shore up as necessary.