Councils bolster case for leaky homes cash support

Auckland councils are beefing up their case for more Government help with the leaky homes repair bill while they wait for negotiations to resume.

The Waitakere City Council is calling for more details on the state offer to pay 10 per cent of the cost of fixing some homes, and the North Shore City Council has rejected the offer.

North Shore councillors insist the Government should, at least, match council contributions of 20 per cent.

The cost of repairs to about 55,000 homes in the country is estimated at between $11.6 billion and $20 billion.

Concern at the financial burden on property owners and ratepayers has prompted a demand for help from Waitakere and North Shore, as well as Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams said the Government was "dabbling round the edges" with its offer. He seeks figures to back his belief that the Government would make a profit from its rescue package through GST and income tax.

His claim brought an abrupt end to last month's teleconference between mayors of the six cities and building minister Maurice Williamson.

Talks are unlikely to resume this year.