Cridge v Studorp Ltd - [2025] 2 NZLR 69

Tort — Negligence — Duty of care — Manufacturer of Harditex cladding system — Whether manufacturer owing duty of care to building owner — Whether duty breached — Alleged defects in Harditex cladding sheet system — Weathertightness issues in houses built using Harditex — Whether Harditex caused or contributed to water damage in houses — Whether faults in design and installation details — Fit for purpose — Adequacy of technical instructions — Whether Harditex requiring level of building expertise beyond skill level of reasonably competent builder — Obligation to modify product or warn consumers — Analysis of expert evidence — Limitation period — Reasonable discoverability test — Economic loss — Longstop provisions — Limitation Act 1950 s 4.

Commercial law — Misleading conduct in trade — Whether misrepresentations about qualities or attributes of Harditex cladding sheet system — Whether statements in technical instructions false or misleading — Reliance on statements — Limitation period — Causation — Fair Trading Act 1986 ss 9, 10 and 43.

Limitation — Negligence — Duty of care — Manufacturer of key building product — Applicable statute — Reasonable discoverability test — Longstop provision — Limitation Act 2010.