Govt probes Tauranga housing developments

Homeowners at the Bella Vista development held a conference in response to Tauranga Council's compensation offer.

The government is investigating whether other housing developments in Tauranga could meet the same fate as the failed Bella Vista subdivision.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reviewing the council's building control unit to identify how and why the subdivision failed.

The Tauranga City Council signed off on shoddy construction work at the Bella Vista Development, leaving the homes too dangerous to live in.

In March, the former residents were evacuated from their newly built homes.

They are now taking a class action against the council, after the council offered them a compensation package the residents deemed too low.

The ministry's building spokesperson Paul Hobbs says investigators would interview and collect information from council staff and had already visited building sites.

"The focus of this review is to identify how and why the failure of the Bella Vista subdivision occurred and to determine whether there is risk of similar failures occurring elsewhere in the Tauranga district."

Legal background

There are multiple groups now embroiled in the Bella Vista saga, and many are seeking redress.

Two of the households have taken legal action against the council, which will be heard in Auckland in October.

Another 18 households are in the process of putting together their legal claims against the council, but have not yet served papers.

Meanwhile, the council is suing Bella Vista Homes and its director Danny Cancian, but he, in turn, is counter-suing the council.

Liquidators are demanding repayment of $2 million from the former directors of Bella Vista Homes, one of whom is Danny Cancian.

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3 comments

Long time

Posted on 06-09-2018 15:16 | By rosbo

I feel for all the Bella Vista people and all the others likely to be caught up in the new investigation. It will take years to get through the courts and you can be sure the Council will spend a million dollars to avoid paying out a hundred thousand.


Re Bella Vista

Posted on 06-09-2018 16:43 | By lorrainepalmer

There certainly are other instances similar to the Bella Vista development in Tauranga. The difference being folk have not yet been told to evacuate their homes. Two years so far to get to the point Bella Vista arrived at in as many months. People in limbo waiting for news on when they too will be homeless. This council has much to answer for.


Clear out

Posted on 07-09-2018 08:14 | By Slim Shady

Monkeys and organ grinders alike. The lot must go.


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