Masterton mayor Dux Qest first

The man initially behind the importation of a plumbing product now in the spotlight because it has been failing in homes throughout the country causing flooding and water damage was Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell.
Mr Daniell innocently brought the first shipments of black polybutylene piping now known as Dux Qest to New Zealand - having secured the franchise from America - and his former family home in Konini Street was the first in the country to have the product installed.
Admitting his role in the arrival of Dux Qest to this country, Mr Daniell said he had also fitted it to his existing home in Te Ore Ore Road and had since had to have it stripped out because of leaks and pipe bursts.
He won the franchise to import the product after visiting the United States in the late 1970s when it was believed the pipes had a distinct advantage over copper pipes.
"It wouldn't freeze and burst in hard frosts and was used very extensively in the States, particularly in transportable homes," Mr Daniell said.
"I managed to negotiate the franchise for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands with Qest."
Mr Daniell said his interest in getting the right to bring the piping to New Zealand was sparked at a hardware expo held in Chicago and at that time he was told Dunlop had first call on importing it, but that company had not taken up the offer.
He had been virtually able to secure the right to bring the product to " anywhere left and right of Australia".
Dux Qest had been widely used in homes from 1977 until the mid 1980s when problems started to emerge.
Mr Daniell said the pipes fitted at his homes had been passed by building inspectors but had needed to later be taken out and replaced with " a second-generation material".
He had been told that part of the reason why the product failed in New Zealand was because of the high level of ultra-violet light, but he couldn't see how that could be a factor.
"Most of the stuff is inside walls or under floors where the UV wouldn't be great."
Mr Daniell said he remembered being a bit miffed when Dux "assumed total responsibility" for the franchise but now, years on, was quite relieved.