Port Hills fires court action

18 October 2017 at 1:37 pm

Orion confirms that DLA Piper, acting for IAG and others, has filed a statement of claim against Orion and the owner of the Christchurch Adventure Park in the High Court regarding the Port Hills fires. 

The statement of claim alleges that the Early Valley Road fire was started by a failure of Orion’s electricity equipment in Early Valley Road on 13 February.

Orion will file a statement of defence at the High Court today, denying the allegations.

Orion understands that the people of Christchurch need to know what caused the Port Hills fires.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is the lead agency investigating the possible causes. Its investigators have requested information from Orion on several occasions, including very recently.

Orion is co-operating with the Fire and Emergency New Zealand‘s investigators, and providing them with the information they have requested about our network, including how it operated on 13 February.  

Given that Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigation isn’t complete, Orion cannot speculate on the possible causes of the fires at this time.

 

For background see: The Press, 18 October 2017: IAG to sue lines company Orion and Christchurch Adventure Park over Port Hills fires