The price of victory

But for two years, Gray has led a double life: airline pilot by profession, bush lawyer in his downtime.

Since discovering his Ponsonby townhouse was riddled with rot, Gray has used every available moment to pursue justice, representing himself and his neighbours in a landmark leaky-homes claim.

The load he has carried eased considerably last Friday when the weathertight homes service awarded Gray and six other claimants $700,000.

For Gray, just promoted to Airbus captain with Air New Zealand, his $116,000 award was a moment for quiet elation. But no amount of money could compensate for the stress and anxiety the owners had endured since defects in the Ponsonby Gardens townhouses began to show seven years ago.

The service hailed the award as proof that although leaky building cases are complex, "ordinary" owners with a sound case who are willing to persevere will eventually get compensation.

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