Rotorua's city leaders don't all agree with the way the Rotorua District Council has handled the situation with three Western Rd property owners seeking action over their sinking homes.
Newest councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait has described the situation as "one almighty cock-up" and said she wouldn't want to be treated the way the Western Rd property owners had.
However, councillor Dave Donaldson said the actions of some councillors in what he believed was attributing blame via national media bordered on contempt of court.
Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters said he was comfortable with the process but not comfortable with how long it was taking. However, it was important "that we get it right", Mr Winters said.
"We are in the hands of the High Court judge. If the High Court judge finds fault with the council in our own internal processes we will certainly front up."
The council issued building consents and Code of Compliance Certificates for three sections in the Oakland Estate subdivision developed by former councillor Geoff Kenny on Western Rd, Ngongotaha.
Last year, the Department of Building and Housing reversed the consents and compliance certificates.
Subsidence had caused damage ranging from uneven floors and loose bricks to doors and windows which would barely close and cracks in foundation walls.
The properties are owned by Grant Collins and Shirley Vos, John and Eileen Grundy and Katy and Richard Davis. Mr Collins, who is the spokesman for the group, said the length of time they'd had to wait for the appeal to be heard was ludicrous.
The Rotorua District Council announced in February it was appealing the reversals but a date has still not been set for a hearing.
A separate hearing is to be held in the High Court involving the insurers of the consultants involved in the project and any of the claimants were invited to make claims.
Mr Winters said the three Western Rd property owners would be able to make a claim as part of that if they chose to but property owner Mr Collins said they were not part of those proceedings.
Mrs Raukawa-Tait and councillors Charles Sturt and Mark Gould came out in support of the property owners on TVNZ's Close Up on Tuesday night.
The Daily Post yesterday contacted Mr Winters and all the councillors to ask if they were happy with how the council had handled the situation.
All 13 had empathy for the owners and nine said they were happy with the actions of the council, with many of them saying there were several parties involved including the council, engineers, residents, insurers, the developer and the builders - and the court was the right place to deal with it now.
"The liabilities to be resolved are in the millions of dollars," Mr Donaldson said.
"I support the view of the council that court is the appropriate place to seek resolution ... I would have liked the matter to be resolved much quicker than it is. Justice delayed is justice denied but one only has to look at the inquiry with the issues of blame being discussed in the CTV building [in Christchurch] collapse to see how complex that can be," Mr Donaldson said.
Mr Gould and Janet Wepa did not want to comment as the matter was before the courts.
Mr Sturt and Mrs Raukawa-Tait said they were not happy with the way the council had handled the situation with Mrs Raukawa-Tait saying little empathy had been shown by the council.
Oakland Estate sinking homes saga
"I'm quite appalled that we have treated good people that way.
"They are ratepayers and contributing members who bought [their properties] in good faith.
"I wouldn't want to be treated in the way they have ... I think this has been one almighty cock-up."
Mrs Raukawa-Tait said the council should set a date to have the matter resolved by the end of the year.
"We could have used our influence on our insurers to say 'we want this sorted ASAP'."
Mr Sturt said the council should be working with its insurers to establish who is responsible for what happened at Western Rd. "Those who are responsible should be held accountable."