3 named in concrete charges

Three people can now be named in a Commerce Commission case alleging that a building firm misrepresented concrete products.

The watchdog filed charges in the Auckland District Court against four individuals for alleged misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act between July 2007 and June 2013.

Named suppression has now been lifted for Dunedin-based Cavan Forde and Martin Forde and Aucklandbased Chris Middleditch, who have each entered not guilty pleas.

The Commerce Commission is alleging that individuals associated with the Cavan Forde Group (CFG) of companies represented that the autoclaved aerated concrete products they were supplying were an internationally renowned brand known as Hebel, when in fact consumers were getting a Chinese substitute.

In a statement to the Herald CFG spokesman Cavan Forde said: “We continue to defend the allegations of misrepresentation made by the Commerce Commission relating to their inquiry into autoclaved aerated concrete [ACC] panels sold in New Zealand.

“All Supercrete systems are of the highest quality and independently CodeMarked or Appraised as NZ Building Code compliant. Customers can remain assured that these systems meet the highest standards,” he said.

“These are historical allegations and we are confident that when the facts are fully aired the directors will be vindicated.”