15 December 2004

Government Must Account For BIA Failures

New Zealand First housing spokesperson Brent Catchpole is calling on the Government to accept responsibility for the Building Industry Authority’s failures and help desperate homeowners get their leaky building problems resolved.

“The $19 million Sacramento claim shows just how widespread and severe the problem is. And it is appalling that the BIA has applied to be withdrawn from the action,” said Mr Catchpole.

“It must be infuriating to residents of homes that have been affected to watch the Government repeatedly fail to even attempt to resolve the issue or to provide any real relief for those that have to live in substandard homes.

“Even more infuriating is the court process that the owners of Sacramento have to go through to get the issue resolved when it is blatantly clear that the BIA is largely responsible for the problem.

“It is outrageous that all responsibility has been absolved when the BIA clearly knew about leaky building problems well before it took any steps to deal with them.

“The Government needs to urgently pass legislation that would stop the legal gymnastics being practiced by construction companies and individuals responsible for the shoddy designs and building methods or materials used in the first place.

“Developers are using liquidation to evade their responsibilities and the BIA has managed to do the same by disbanding.

“Those responsible for the leaky building crisis must be held to account so that home owners can get some satisfaction,” concluded Mr Catchpole.

ENDS

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