Thousands spent on covering up rotting homes
Thousands spent on covering up rotting homes
The Government’s building industry regulator Building Industry Authority has spent $65,000 in six months trying to cover up the rotting homes crisis, National Housing Spokesperson Dr Wayne Mapp revealed today.
In responses to questions from National, Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins says the Building Industry Authority spent $64,495 on communications, public relations and media advice between May and November this year.
“This
shows the BIA has spent a large amount of time trying to
cover up the rotting homes crisis and not enough time making
any attempt to solve it.
“The public have not been
fooled by this $65,000 PR exercise. Owners of rotting homes
are angry that the Minister and the BIA have been so
dismissive about this issue.
“What homeowners want
is solutions, not the butt covering that we are seeing.
“The BIA is yet to pick up either of the second two
points in National’s strategy to solve the crisis - that is
the inspection of all homes built since 1996 and to change
the Building Code to ensure that the crisis doesn’t affect
any more homes.
“The Government has turned a blind
eye to this disaster, been flat-footed since it realised its
mistake, and is still not providing any solutions to
homeowners affected today and those wanting to build homes
in future,” Dr Mapp said.