Ōhau landowners blame lines company for $40m fire losses

The Lake Ōhau Village fire destroyed 48 houses and seriously damaged six others. (Image NZME)

Wed, 17 Apr 2024

Property owners who say they suffered more than $40 million in damages when a fire devastated Lake Ōhau Village in the South Island in 2020 have been told by the High Court to refine their statement of claim.More than 100 plaintiffs, including individuals, companies and trusts, allege that electricity lines company Network Waitaki was negligent in maintaining a power pole and its failure started the blaze.It took more than a week to extinguish the out-of-control 5,000-hectare scrub fire on the shoreline of Lake Ōhau, in the Mackenzie Basin near...

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