Leaky buildings leader replaced

The woman heading the service meant to help owners of leaky buildings is no longer in the job.

Dr Lisa Ferguson, who has come in for criticism as the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service struggles to cope with multi-million dollar leaky homes claims, has been replaced by an acting national manager, Nigel Bickle.

Mr Bickle is also national manager of tenancy services for the Department of Building and Housing.

Department of Internal Affairs spokesman Colin Feslier said Dr Ferguson was still employed by the department but had not transferred with the service when it switched to the Department of Building and Housing on July 1.

The service has come under almost constant criticism for its inability to make headway. It has resolved 344 claims of more than 3300 valid claims lodged in two-and-a-half years. It resolved 100 claims while receiving 400 fresh claims so far this year.

Auckland airline pilot John Gray, who represented seven Ponsonby Gardens townhouse owners awarded $700,000 in March after a weathertight service adjudication, was pleased Dr Ferguson was gone. He said she was dismissive of claimants.

Former service adjudicator David Gatley, who resigned last year in protest at the way the service was failing to help homeowners, said Dr Ferguson was "completely out of her depth and knowledge" as head of the service. He believed other senior staff connected with the service should also resign.