history=<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE="12"><b>Company History</b></font><br>Geotech Consulting Ltd is a specialist geological and geotechnical consultancy based in Christchurch. The company is owned and run by three principals (Mark Yetton, Nick Traylen and Ian McCahon) and from time to time employs various contract staff.<br><br> Dr Mark Yetton originally formed the company in 1992, after leaving his position as engineering geologist and manager of a geotechnical subsidiary for a national multidisciplinary company.<br><br>Initially Mark's geological work centred on stability and erosion issues on Banks Peninsula, but work on hydroelectric schemes in Westland sparked an interest in the active faults and seismology of that region. In 1995 Mark started research work on the paleoseismology of the central Alpine Fault. The results of this work have provided valuable information to insurers, territorial authorities and various infrastructure providers. 
Other work has included extensive detailed site investigations at several possible regional landfill sites in the Canterbury area, and a wide range of seismic hazard related projects, including extension of the central Alpine Fault work into more northern areas of the South Island.
In 1998 Nick Traylen joined the company to increase the geotechnical engineering services offered by the company. Nick and Mark had worked together in Christchurch in the late 80's and early 90's, before Nick left for Hong Kong to spend 6 years working there on a wide variety of large scale infrastructure and building projects. Back in New Zealand, Nick's work has come from a range of projects, including foundation investigations, liquifaction assessment, retaining design, seismic hazard work and land stability issues.
In 1999 Ian McCahon joined Mark and Nick, having previously worked alongside both of them in the late 1980’s. Ian's presence has increased the geotechnical engineering capacity of the company and also brings with it Ian's speciality skills in hydro and waterway engineering.