KEY POINTS:
Many leaky home builders who are to be "named and shamed" by angry councils have already fled the country, Waitakere's Mayor has warned.
Auckland City Mayor John Banks wants to expose builders, developers and contractors who have shirked their responsibilities for leaky homes.
He had not worked out
the details of the name and shame scheme yesterday, but suggested the names could appear on the council's website.
But Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said the plan was pointless because most of the culprits had already left New Zealand.
He said seven out of 10 leaky home culprits his council had tried to name and shame had already fled, most of them to the Gold Coast.
"John Banks might have better luck, but ours in the west have long gone, leaving only victims and destroyed lives."
Mr Harvey said that if anyone deserved to be named and shamed, it was the builders of leaky homes.
But others also deserved some of the blame. "It's not just builders."
Some of those responsible included long-departed council inspectors. "I wouldn't mind finding some of them."
Mr Harvey said the name and shame plan was an "exercise in futility", born of frustration with the leaky homes process.
Councils have been left facing huge repair bills after many leaky home builders fled or went into liquidation.
Mr Banks said he wanted to catch up with the "flash Freds" who had walked away from responsibility for leaky homes by hiding behind "$100 companies". He said the plan was not about being vindictive - "It's about taking responsibility."
He praised the actions of developers and builders who had taken responsibility for leaky homes.
The name and shame plan was "not a priority", he said.
Mr Banks has been trying to get the Government to share the cost of claims. Auckland City Council expects to receive 1000 claims costing from $350 to $500 million in the next decade.
He said the council accepted it had some responsibility, but the burden should be shared "on a fair and equal basis".
John Gray, president of the Homeowners and Buyers Association, doubted that Mr Banks' name and shame list would work and said it riled him to even hear of the suggestion.
"Councils already know the culprits in the leaky homes disgrace, yet they have failed to act for years."
His association wants the law changed so developers and builders are obliged to stand by their work.
