Building company MR8 Construction in liquidation

Another Auckland construction business has gone into liquidation, sparking a dispute over work in Ponsonby, but an ex-director of the builder says no money is owed.

Companies Office records show BHSSR, previously called MR8 Construction, went into voluntary liquidation yesterday and is in the hands of Waterstone Insolvency.

One creditor said $50,000 was outstanding for work undertaken last year and he knew of at least two other creditors who had provided goods and services on a project on Ponsonby’s Fitzroy St.

Mark Ensom, MR8 Construction’s contact on the firm’s website, said he was a former director of the company which did not owe any money.

The creditor, in fact, owed MR8 Construction about $30,000, Ensom said, because its work had been defective and took builders many weeks to rectify.

“They totally mucked up. There’s been litigation,” Ensom said.

The creditor said work was carried out last October but payment had not been received.

“We served a statutory demand on them and were ready to go to court to enforce that only to find it had changed its name and the company had been placed in liquidation. I know of at least two other creditors who are going to get burnt too,” the man said.

MR8 Construction’s website shows projects at Farro Orakei and residential work in Mt Eden, Ponsonby and Flat Bush.

Michael Turner of Waterstone said the firm had only been appointed and had been told by Ensom there were no creditors.

“My understanding is that it has not been trading for some time,” Turner said. However, accounts were yet to be received and examined.

On Sunday, it was announced the Government was partnering with some of New Zealand’s largest construction companies to tackle issues after company collapses and poorquality builds.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Fletcher Construction chief executive Peter Reidy, and other industry chiefs, revealed the plan to tackle the problems.

The plan would, said Ardern, improve the construction sector’s culture and reputation, increase its workforce and deliver more houses.

“The wellbeing of New Zealanders is intrinsically linked to safe, durable and affordable homes, buildings and infrastructure,” Ardern said.