While the full extent of the national leaky homes problem is beginning to emerge, Tauranga leaky homeowners are finding their own solutions, says mayor Stuart Crosby.

Nearly all monolithic cladding homes will fail with 15 years, say experts
'Builders, developers, home owners and council are collaborating to fix the home outside the legal processes,” says Stuart. 'That's happening a lot behind the scenes.”
The Tauranga City Council is also party to a number of legal claims that are being worked through.
'As far as Tauranga is concerned we have done an assessment of our own,” says Stuart. 'Of a sample of 500 homes built within the era when the monolithic cladding homes were being built, we believe that about seven percent are affected in some shape or form.
We are different to Auckland, we don't have the big complexes they have, most of ours are single dwellings.”
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says the $11 billion and 42,000 homes figure the government is currently working with, is equivalent to the annual health or education budgets.
Even a government running budget surpluses would struggle to find the money, and the National Government is forecasting deficits for many years ahead, says Maurice.
Experts who were asked by the government to assess the size of the leaky homes issue
say the government is dealing with only half leaky homes problem.
Their report to the government last year estimated about 89,000 homes will fail at a cost of nearly $23 million.
The industry experts also warn that between 80 and 100 per cent of homes built with monolithic cladding will fail within 15 years, and that 90 per cent of apartments and other multi unit homes built between 1992 and 2005 will leak badly at some point.
Auckland mayor John Banks and Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast are delegated to continue dealing with the minister on the issue after the government's initial offer of 10 per cent was rejected by the main centre mayors.
The scheme called for home owners to pay for 65 per cent of repairs, in return for not suing councils which would pay 20 per cent. A new scheme is expected to be announced in April or May.
'Kerry Prendergast and John Banks did indicate the door is still open, which is good,” says Stuart.
'At least this government is working with us to find a solution, whereas the previous one didn't.”
Maurice Williamson on Friday released a discussion document outlining proposals for amendments to the Building Act.
The discussion document and consultation are part of the Better Building Blueprint, a series of measures that will make it easier and cheaper for New Zealanders to build good quality homes and buildings.
'I'm convinced there is room for improvement and consistency across the country,” says Maurice.
'This will reduce costs and improve efficiency for both the consumer and the builder. I have an open mind on the best way to achieve this.
”We want to make sure we get the right balance between risk, regulation and skills and this consultation will help us do that.”