Waiwera Group put in liquidation
Waiwera Group, which ran the Waiwera bottling company and water park north of Auckland, has been placed into liquidation.
The company, owned by bankrupt Russian businessman Mikhail Khimich, made all employees of Waiwera Thermal Resort redundant ahead of refurbishments in February last year, but never re-opened.
Liquidator Tony Maginness of Baker Tilly Staples Rodway was appointed on Tuesday by the
Official Assignee as part of Khimich’s bankruptcy.
Khimich was the company’s sole shareholder and director.
He was declared bankrupt on October 8, by the High Court at Wellington. Companies Office records show Waiwera Thermal Resort went into liquidation in February 2019.
According to the first liquidator’s report by Staples Rodway, published in March this year, Waiwera Thermal Resort owed Waiwera Group Ltd $2.1 million, Inland Revenue $584,481 and unsecured creditors $1.1m.
In May the High Court in Wellington
ordered Khimich to pay Kiwibank $1.29m in outstanding principal and interest under three loan agreements, which were guaranteed by him.
Interest will continue to accrue on the $1,292,982 unpaid loans, the court ordered.
Originally from Moscow, Khimich gained New Zealand residency in 2013.
Land Information New Zealand records show Khimich he was granted permission under the Overseas Investment Act to buy 10 hectares of land from the Waiwera Valley Properties Ltd in 2010.