‘I’d poke Shipley in the eye’ says leaky building victim

The High Court judgment against Mainzeal directors won’t help Dunedin resident Shelley St James.

The 60-year-old, who is in poor health, is in debt by about $220,000 for fix-up costs on a Mainzeal-built Tauranga apartment.

‘‘If I saw Jenny Shipley I’d poke her in the eye,’’ she said. ‘‘Those Mainzeal people have no idea of the damage they have done to people’s lives.’’

St James bought the apartment in 2007 and two years later it was classed as a leaky home.

After lengthy negotiations Mainzeal agreed to pay for repairs but the firm collapsed before they could be carried out.

The apartment body corporate successfully applied for Weathertight Homes funding assistance but the Mainzeal failure meant the apartment owners were then liable for half the cost of repairs.

It was one of several leaky building claims Mainzeal faced.

St James, who is still liable for the mortgage plus rates, has set up a Givealittle page with small success.

She obtained some relief from being able to use her KiwiSaver scheme to buy a derelict home at Waikouaiti. With the help of friends and family members she managed to make it habitable.

She commutes three days a week to Dunedin for work, because her health prevents her working longer hours. She has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a debilitating and painful condition affecting the joints, muscles and bones, for which there is no cure.

‘‘It’s just about driven me crazy. Some days I’m surprised I can get out of bed.’’