The NZ Transport Agency will not back down on its refusal to cover windscreen damage arising from shoddy repair work on the Southern Motorway earlier this month.
On March 18, substandard work on the motorway near Mosgiel caused tar and stone damage to dozens of cars, with 72 people contacting the agency about issues so far.
Despite the agency saying it would "make good'' on the damaged vehicles, it later decided cover would only extend to body and tyre damage, with motorists having to pick up the cost for any windscreen damage.
Following an article in the Otago Daily Times on Saturday, several people affected by the stones contacted the newspaper.
One person said he was facing a repair bill of more than $500 as his insurance did not cover glass and his entire windscreen needed replaced.
He was annoyed and could not afford to have it replaced.
His story echoed those of others left out of pocket or inconvenienced because of windscreen damage.
When contacted yesterday, a NZTA spokeswoman said the agency would not revisit the policy, which mirrored the "overall approach country-wide''.
The cost of other repair work would be covered by the contractor responsible for the substandard work, Downer.
Of the 72 calls to the agency, 45 were for tar damage such as stones, chips or tar stuck to vehicles, eight were for tyre damage and 34 for windscreens.
Attempts to contact Downer were unsuccessful.
NZTA has not commented on the cost of repairing the damaged cars, but said it would be covered by Downer's insurance.
