National Just As Much At Fault Over Leaky Buildings As Labour, Says United Future

"The building practices that have given rise to the "leaky buildings" crisis were public knowledge in 1998, during National’s term of office, and National’s efforts to pin all the blame on the current Government are a case of ‘the pot calling the kettle black' " says United Future MP Murray Smith.

As early as January 1998 the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) were warning the industry and the public of bad building practices evident at that time and the National Government ignored their cautions.

In particular, Mr Smith says, in Bulletin 366 issued in January 1998 BRANZ states: "The tendency to omit flashings from aluminium window installation is discouraging. Properly formed drained joints, and back-up flashings, at the interface between window and wall cladding are necessary to ensure that there is no water penetration. Following the correct procedure in ordering, storing and installing windows is essential to ensure a trouble-free job."

"It is notable", he said "that in its press releases and questions in the House, the National Party is careful not to point to evidence and reports that were made public prior to the Labour Government coming into power in 1999.

"National needs to tell the country what steps it took prior to October 1999 to try to prevent the current building crisis developing.

"It’s time that the National Opposition stopped pointing the finger at Labour and looked at the three fingers pointing back at it."

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