Fire-damaged Te Awamutu home more than just a house

Louise Mateara is living in a rented cabin a year after her home was damaged in a fire. Photo / Dean Taylor

It has been a year to the day since Louise Mateara's home on Frontier Rd caught fire and she has just one simple wish - to be able to shift back in.

The problem is so far no work has been undertaken to fix it.

And this isn't a story about someone who is down on their luck because they didn't carry insurance – Louise has full house and contents with Vero, and has continued to pay the premium even though she can't live in the house.

Louise bought the home with her then partner about 20 years ago. When they split up she struggled financially, but managed to buy him out and continue to live there and raise her four children: Luke, Cory, Holly and Jacob.

Another reason she is so attached to her little home is because Luke had muscular dystrophy and for the last few years of his life it was home, where Louise nursed him and where, on August 20, 2008 aged just 15, he passed away in his sleep.

On July 1 last year Louise left the home at 11am. She returned at 6pm and when she opened the door it was obvious there had been a fire smouldering away inside. The gust of air set the blaze going.

Louise and Jacob tried to fight the blaze, but had to give up.

She says the Te Awamutu Fire Brigade and St John Ambulance personnel were excellent. They set about looking after Louise and her family – and even now still ask after them.

Her problem was reaching an agreement with her insurance company.

Louise used up all her goodwill with friends and family while the house sat empty after the fire. She says it was terribly disruptive for her son Jacob, who went between friends and his father.

Louise even lived out of her car for a short time – homeless even though she owned a fully insured house.

Currently she is renting a cabin which has been moved onto her property – a daily reminder that she cannot live in the home she worked so hard for.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a faulty meter box, which was located inside.

Part of the damage to the house, where the faulty meter box caught fire, that is still not repaired. Photo / Dean Taylor

Fire damaged the wall, ceiling and roof of the kitchen/dining area and smoke ruined just about everything else in the house.

Louise says Vero came up with an offer that did not rectify all the issues and according to her experts would not make the home habitable again.

Meanwhile, she says Vero did not even make the house weather-proof, so it is deteriorating further as time goes by due to water damage, mould developing and appliances rusting.

She says she has had legal advice that Vero have breached the terms of the insurance contract, but she doesn't have the financial means to formally engage the services of a lawyer to fight the company.

Louise says she does not want to give up, but is running out of choices.

"It is taking a toll on my three children," she says.

It also means she can't see as much of her grandchildren as she would like because they can't visit and stay with their nan.

"It's heartbreaking for me," says Louise.

Te Awamutu Courier first contacted Vero about this claim in September last year and again in May this year.

A response from a Vero spokesperson states: "Vero has made payments to Ms Mateara to cover the costs of her temporary accommodation and damaged contents that need to be replaced. We have also recently made a payment to Ms Mateara to cover the cost to repair the damage to her home caused by the fire.

"If Ms Matera finds, when she undertakes the repairs, that the cost to fix the fire damage is higher than the estimate we received, we are happy to work with her to ensure that her final settlement is fair.

"There have been some delays with this claim and Vero does apologise for the time taken to resolve it. With all claims, we rely on our customers to work with us in good faith, including taking reasonable steps to prevent further damage and providing evidence or quotes where their views of the probable costs differ from ours, so that we can work constructively with them to resolve their claims as quickly as possible."

Louise says not only did she not reach an agreement at that time, but since the first offer was made she claims Vero has reconsidered and lowered the amount they are prepared to pay in full settlement.

"It was a beautiful home," says Louise.

"It's what on the inside that counts.

"I just want to be able to move back in."