The Commission has filed civil proceedings to seek compensation for people affected by Carter Holt Harvey’s mis-labelling of MGP-10 / Laserframe timber. If you believe you are affected, you can register your details with the Commission. We will then keep you informed about the civil proceedings.
§ INFORMATION WE NEED FROM YOU
§ HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION
§ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
§ BACKGROUND INFORMATION
INFORMATION WE NEED FROM YOU
- Name
- Postal address
- Phone numbers: Daytime / Evening / Mobile
- Email address
I believe I am affected as a:
- HOMEOWNER: MGP-10 / Laserframe purchased between May 1998 and October 2003 was used on my house or other structure
- BUILDER: I used MGP-10 / Laserframe purchased between May 1998 and October 2003 in work I did for other people
- COMPETITOR: I was a competitor of Carter Holt Harvey the MGP-10 market between May 1998 and October 2003 (eg: sawmill)
- OTHER: Other (please briefly explain why you may be affected)
The information you provide is confidential and will only be used by the Commerce Commission to contact you as the claim progresses. By providing information you are asking to be kept informed about the progress of the claim. At this stage you are not agreeing to be part of the claim.
Please note that this is not an online form – you will need to send us the information by one of the methods below.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION
- CALL Wellington 0800 023 446 and leave your details on our message line
- POST your information to: Carter Holt Harvey Claim
Commerce Commission
PO Box 2351
Wellington
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How do I know if my house or other structure was built with MGP-10/ Laserframe?
- I am a builder who used MGP-10 / Laserframe timber – what does this mean for me? Why do you want my details? Does this mean I am part of the compensation claim?
- How do I know if I am entitled to compensation? How much will it be?
- How long will this take? When will you contact me?
- Are structures built with MGP-10 / Laserframe safe?
How do I know if my house or other structure was built with MGP-10/ Laserframe?
- Only timber purchased between May 1998 and October 2003 is covered by this compensation claim.
- Check your invoices or records if you purchased the timber yourself.
- Ask your builder if MGP-10 / Laserframe was used.
- If framing timber is visible (eg: in a roof space) look for a green, purple, or black stripe on the timber. This is MGP-10.
- Timber with a red stripe is MGP-8 and is not involved in this compensation claim.
I am a builder who used MGP-10 / Laserframe timber – what does this mean for me?
- You or the people you built for may be entitled to compensation.
- Register your details, noting that you are a builder, and we will contact you.
Why do you want my details? Does this mean I am part of the compensation claim?
- To progress its case against Carter Holt Harvey, the Commission is gathering contact details of those who might be affected.
- At this stage all you are doing is telling us that you think you are affected, and would like to be kept informed.
- We will contact you at a later date when you will be able to choose whether you want to be part of the compensation claim.
- Your details will be kept confidential and will only be used by the Commerce Commission to contact you with information about the proceedings.
How do I know if I am entitled to compensation? How much will it be?
- Only the Court can order compensation to be paid.
- At this stage no one can say who will be entitled to compensation, or how much it will be.
How long will this take? When will you contact me?
- The case is complex and will take time to progress.
- The Commission will contact you within six months to update you on the case.
Are structures built with MGP-10 / Laserframe safe?
- There are no safety issues associated with the use of MGP-10 / Laserframe.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Consequences of using incorrectly graded timber. The grade of timber may affect the design of a structural component of a building. It is highly unlikely that using the non-MGP10 timber that was sold as MGP10 would cause failure of any particular house component, but the house may suffer performance defects such as deflections in the roof and squeaky floors.
Commission’s criminal prosecution of Carter Holt Harvey. In October 2006 Carter Holt Harvey pleaded guilty to 20 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act by selling timber that did not meet the grade claimed on packaging. The company was fined $900,000, and a Carter Holt Harvey executive was later fined in connection with the same behaviour.