The government is chipping in on legal costs as a Christchurch couple is being dragged back to court.

Last month, the Dodds were awarded more than $170,000 after the High Court ruled Southern Response wrongly represented the total cost of rebuilding their earthquake damaged house.

Now the Crown is appealing that decision.

Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission Grant Robertson, says the High Court judgement left unanswered questions, so Southern Response is taking the ruling to the Appeal Court for certainty.

“Clarity is needed on whether Southern Response has legal obligations to go back in time and pay customers more than they were entitled to at the time of claim settlement.”

Robertson says the Dodds will be disappointed by the Crown decision, so the Government's offering to pay their legal bills to date, plus Court of Appeal costs.