National moves again on rotting homes

Hon Bill English - National Party Leader

The Government's move yesterday to try and provide a solution to the growing rotting home crisis has been shown to be worthless within 24 hours of the announcement, says National Party Leader Bill English.

“It was clearly a rushed job by Labour with no real thought put into the complexity of the problem, which is why so many experts are now saying voluntary mediation will not work.

“You only need to see the example of the Wellington woman Laura, who doesn’t even know where her builder is. Does the Government really expect this 60 year old woman already highly distressed by her situation to have any chance on her own locating her builder. Labour is saying her only other option is through the courts.

“Yesterday National rang around all the major courts in New Zealand and the earliest anyone could expect their case to be heard would be March next year. By then homeowners are heading into another winter with no solution in sight.

“There is a way out and that is for the Government to accept National’s proposal of a Weathertightness Tribunal, which could be up and running in a matter of weeks.

“Over the next few days National will seek support from other political parties for a proposed amendment to the Construction Contracts Bill, which would allow for the establishment of the Tribunal.

“National will next week seek leave for the second time to have the Bill referred back to the Finance and Expenditure Committee to consider our Supplementary Order Paper which establishes a compulsory arbitration process. This could be passed into law by the end of the current session and is the only real answer,” says Mr English.

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