Book

Rottenomics: The Story of New Zealand’s Leaky Buildings Disaster

BY PETER DYER

BATEMAN BOOKS, 2019

Peter Dyer examines everything he believes caused ‘the perfect storm’ that led to New Zealand’s ‘leaky building syndrome’, arguing it can be largely sheeted home to “Rogernomics” and the new political belief in the effectiveness of market forces.

Before I start, let me declare some inside knowledge. I was a member of the Buildings Research Industry Group (BRIG) and a protagonist for change, based on Professor Helen Tippett’s research and a belief in the value of a performance-based code for the future of a mature industry. I joined the interim Building Industry Authority (BIA) in September 1990, to help turn the Building Industry Commission’s (BIC) work into reality. I can confirm (supported by BIA chairperson, Wyn Hoadley) that the BIA was never instructed by the Lange cabinet that a ‘free market’ philosophy