Clutha Health First used James Hardie exterior cladding product in stage one of its recent redevelopment.
A $200 million-plus leaky building class action suit against James Hardie, which seeks compensation for damages caused by the cladding manufacturers' alleged faulty products, is working its way through the courts after a High Court decision to permit the class action by Parker & Associates to proceed.
Clutha Health Inc chairman Ken Blair said in the organisation's annual report it had come to its attention earlier this year that buildings throughout New Zealand had issues with the James Hardie exterior cladding product.
The class action already involved more than 80 property owners who allege they have suffered losses from using cladding materials produced by James Hardie.
Building owners with property built after 1987 using the exterior cladding, who claimed to have suffered damage as a result of alleged product defects, can join the claim.
Clutha Health Inc board member Mervyn Jones said the trust had contacted the lawyers involved to determine if it was possible to become a party to the class action.
It was not clear whether the cladding used in the redevelopment was one of the three types involved in the class suit, so an independent expert's assessment would also be needed.
Clutha Health First chief executive Ray Anton said cracking had been identified in the building exterior, but the extent of the problem was unclear.
''The next thing for us is to get a professional to assess it.''
The 15 various companies within the James Hardie Group are defending the leaky buildings claim and stand by the integrity of their product.
