Socialite ‘sorry’ friends shamed
A socialite being pursued by investors in her failed food delivery company has written a defiant message to friends indicating she is continuing to seek money for environmental projects.
Investors in Angela Merrie’s company, Pretty Damn Good for You – set up to take on My Food Bag with healthier offerings – says she promised to pay them back when the project fell over, but they haven’t seen their money.
She and her father, Alan Merrie, have a history of failed waste-to-energy related businesses that have left investors here and overseas out of pocket.
They will be sentenced in the Tauranga District Court next month on charges of breaching an abatement notice in relation to mountains of used tyres left on land in Kawerau and Waihi.
Angela Merrie did not return messages, but in an email to friends said the allegations against her were untrue and she was sorry that ‘‘many of you were dragged into it as well, which is completely unfair’’.
‘‘If my friends weren’t such a good looking bunch there would be no story,’’ she added.
Merrie has been photographed on social media with various celebrities, including actress Zoe Bell and director Quentin Tarantino.
She said working in the environmental space had not been easy, and blamed her woes on financial institutions.
‘‘For years I have worked hard trying to get various projects funded, but banks ... were always wary of a perceived ‘technology risk’, especially when so much of it has been new and fairly cutting edge.
‘‘It has been hard to sit back and watch though, especially when I was experiencing first hand just how much we really need the projects.’’
She indicated that she would continue to seek investment.
‘‘For the last few months, I have been working to build a platform that will provide funding for all the great projects that need access to capital in order to be realised.’’
Former restaurateur Erwin Zimmet, who is chasing Merrie for $100,000 he invested in Pretty Damn Good For You, said her email seemed ‘‘delusional’’.
‘‘It looks like she’s trying to get more people to give her money, it’s amazing.’’