Legislation that provides a financial assistance package for owners of leaky homes passed its first reading in Parliament tonight.
Under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill the Government will contribute 25 percent of the cost of repairing a leaky home and local authorities will also pay 25 percent if they had signed off the original work.
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said the provisions in the bill would reduce the time and money wasted in disputes so that more went into actually repairing leaky homes.
Home owners who opt into the scheme must agree not to sue contributing councils and the Crown, although they can still sue other parties.
Labour and Green Party MPs congratulated Mr Williamson for negotiating the deal with councils and bringing the bill to Parliament.
It passed its first reading on a unanimous vote and was sent to the local government select committee for public submissions.
NZPA