Leak crisis hearings next week

A select committee investigating the leaky buildings crisis will next week begin hearing evidence from affected homeowners after receiving 230 submissions.

The committee agreed to look into the rotting homes phenomenon after receiving a request from the Minister of Internal Affairs, George Hawkins, in September.

MPs on the committee have so far had a confidential briefing from the Building Industry Authority and Mr Hawkins but are yet to have any hearings open to the public.

The chairwoman of the Government administration committee, Dianne Yates, said MPs were pleased with the number of submissions received.

National MP Wayne Mapp has expressed concern that homeowners were reluctant to come forward because they were afraid publicity would affect their property values. He wants the committee to give submitters the option of confidentiality if they give evidence.

Ms Yates said the committee would meet at the Lakeside Convention Centre in Manakau on Thursday to hear evidence. It also plans to hold hearings in Wellington and Christchurch.

The committee's terms of reference include looking at building consent applications, the split responsibility of building certifiers and territorial authorities, the inspection regime, the level of skills in the building sector, and health issues.

Meanwhile, Internal Affairs has received just over 150 registrations from homeowners wanting to use of the Government's mediation and adjudication service.

A toll-free number and website were set up by the department on October 17 so that affected homeowners could register as havingleaky building problems.

The department said 541 people had rung the toll-free number and 151 had registered with the service.

Project co-ordinator Richard Martin said data collected through the registration service would help the Government to determine how widespread the problem was and would help with policy development.

About half of the calls to the 0800 number came from Greater Auckland, including 126 from Auckland, 74 from the North Shore, 40 from Waitakere and 29 from Manakau.

About 93 Wellington homeowners have registered, 34 from Tauranga, 22 from Hamilton and 36 from Christchurch.

The toll-free number is 0800 116 926

* If you have information about leaking buildings,
email the Herald or fax (09) 373-6421.

Further reading
Feature: Leaky buildings

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