Papers show Govt knew about rotting homes

Papers released today by the Government show the building industry and a Labour MP sounded warnings about the seriousness of leaky and rotting buildings more than two years ago.

National Housing Spokesperson Dr Wayne Mapp said reports by Building Research Authority of New Zealand in 2000 said the problem was large and needed a concerted effort from the Building Industry Authority to address it but apathy in the industry meant nothing was being done.

“The Building Industry Authority, which is responsible for ensuring building standards are maintained, held these reports but did not act. The reports recommended solutions - that all monolithic clad houses be surveyed and that the Building Code be changed - but that hasn’t happened.

“The papers also show that Labour MP Ann Hartley warned the Minister of Internal Affairs in June 2000 that she was concerned about the weathertightness of claddings and asked the Minister the best way to address the concerns.

“The Internal Affairs Minister of the time Mark Burton passed the concerns on to the BIA which did nothing.

“We have had all these warnings, we have had the Hunn Report, we have had Minister Hawkins fiddling around trying to decide if any homes actually leak and are rotting and still no change to the Building Code and no inspection of homes.

“These papers show the Government has been sitting on its hands and that’s why it has been on the back foot since this issue came to light this year,” Dr Mapp said.

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