Moisture in Horowhenua council building

Horowhenua District Council building.

Moisture is getting in to Horowhenua District Council's headquarters in several places, a building report reveals.

The report, personally commissioned by Mayor Michael Feyen from building survey firm Koru VSL, says there is evidence of moisture getting in through a basement retaining wall, the public entrance lobby and two first floor offices. One office has moisture damage to its ceiling and shelving.

There is evidence of moisture behind the paint finish on two external walls.

The report also describes a number of other construction details on the Oxford St building that could let moisture in but not drain out, and records cracks on internal and external walls and the basement floor.

HDC chief executive David Clapperton said there was no concern about the building's weather tightness and it was "certainly not a leaky building".

He said the building was regularly inspected by HDC property staff and contractors, and any maintenance issues or necessary repairs were undertaken accordingly as part of HDC's routine maintenance programme.

The report was commissioned by Mr Feyen late last year, along with a structural report on the building.

He released the two reports publicly this month, although the structural report was the subject of media reports earlier this year.

Mr Feyen said the contents of the reports needed to be followed up by HDC.

"But it's going nowhere at council at the moment. It's like nothing has happened."

Mr Feyen said he was involved in discussions with the Department of Internal Affairs and
the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand over how to move forward.

A Department of Internal Affairs spokesperson said DIA was helping to reach a resolution.

DIA was independent and not taking sides. It did not have specialist structural engineering expertise and was not reviewing or investigating the engineering reports, the DIA spokesperson said.

An HDC spokesperson said DIA's involvement came about following an offer from then
Local Government Minister Anne Tolley during her visit to Horowhenua in May after the issue was raised with her.