logo
Indian Panthers suspension: Companies out of pocket, CEO Parveen Batish alleged to owe thousands of dollars

Indian Panthers suspension: Companies out of pocket, CEO Parveen Batish alleged to owe thousands of dollars

NZ Herald03-05-2025

Pure Athletic owner Chris McKinley told the Herald he was approached by the organisation in February with an urgent request for supporter tees.
'They ordered 1500 tees and we gave them a super price to help them out as they were a new team coming into the NBL.'
McKinley said the total invoice was $21,562.50. He said his business would normally get a 50% deposit for this sort of order, but the Panthers needed it 'urgently' and he was told the money was coming.
More than two months later, McKinley told the Herald his business has not received a single payment, despite the tees being handed out to supporters at games.
He claimed Panthers owner Parveen Batish constantly promised payment via text messages, but didn't follow through.
'I believe this guy Parveen honestly does not care about anybody, he has showed no remorse and just treats people like s***.'
Meanwhile, Auckland-based business Makers Merch has referred the embattled organisation to the Disputes Tribunal, also citing a failure to pay for customised merchandise.
Owner Troy Signal told the Herald he supplied the Panthers with a few thousand units of hand clappers, branded with the organisation's logo.
'Usually what we do is we don't take any orders without payment upfront ... out of goodwill we released the goods so that they would get them before their deadline.'
Signal claimed payment is also more than two months overdue and that Batish had stopped answering his phone calls.
'[It's] a couple of thousand dollars. It's nothing huge, but being a small business operating only nine months ... obviously it's still an amount that does sting us when it comes out of the back pocket.
The Panthers – owned by India's INBL Pro league and Batish – have had a turbulent tenure off the court since announcing they would join the NBL late last year, which in turn has led to a winless season from nine games.
Visa delays for Indian players and national team commitments led to the organisation recruiting New Zealanders to fill in. Originally appointed head coach Miles Pearce also resigned after one game.
In their recent outing against the Canterbury Rams in Pukekohe, the game was called off due to the Panthers being unable to field a full squad. It is understood the team was planning a protest over lack of payment and treatment of players.
Advertise with NZME.
Speaking to the Herald on Thursday, before it was announced the Panthers would be suspended indefinitely, Batish confirmed there were outstanding invoices the organisation needed to pay suppliers.
'We know we're at fault. We have been slow at making some payments and financially we haven't been as professional as we should have been,' Batish said.
Asked if he was aware the organisation had been referred to the Disputes Tribunal, Batish said yes, but he had not heard from any tribunal so far.
'It's not like we're running away, we are here. Sometimes you might have to wait ... He's entitled to do exactly what he's doing and that's okay, but my commitment to him and to you is that they will be paid.
'There has been a timing issue, I've apologised to them profusely for that, but not from a commitment to run away.'
Batish claimed all outstanding invoices would be paid by May 15 – in line with a commitment made to the NBL.
'I've always said to any supplier that has come forward that 100% we will pay you, but right now I'm trying to work out exactly when that would be.'
Asked about other outstanding payments, Batish said he could 'hand on heart' say all New Zealand players from the Panthers had been paid completely.
As for Panthers staff, Batish said they have had some interim payments and were not fully up to date, 'but they will be and they know that'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wool Carpets For State Houses A Win-Win
Wool Carpets For State Houses A Win-Win

Scoop

timean hour ago

  • Scoop

Wool Carpets For State Houses A Win-Win

Press Release – New Zealand Government State housing agency Kinga Ora announced today that from next month, a new supplier agreement will deliver woollen carpets for the fit-out of new state homes. Minister for Economic Growth Hon Mark Patterson Associate Agriculture Minister The return of wool carpets to state homes has been welcomed by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson. State housing agency Kāinga Ora announced today that from next month, a new supplier agreement will deliver woollen carpets for the fit-out of new state homes. 'The decision is great news for sheep farmers, and all the New Zealanders whose jobs and incomes are tied to the fortunes of our world-leading wool industry. 'The Government wants wool producers to have more opportunities like this, which is why in March we issued a directive to 130 Government agencies requiring them to purchase woollen products for building construction and refurbishment, wherever practical and appropriate. 'Kāinga Ora's new supplier agreement was made possible because the agency chose to re-open an initially nylon-only carpet tender and give wool a chance to compete. 'I'm told woollen carpet manufacturers responded very strongly to that opportunity and that the new carpet supply agreements come with no additional cost. 'The message is clear: When wool was put back on the table it more than held its own, delivering value for taxpayers and a win for sheep farmers. 'This proves the value of the Government's moves to give wool a fair shot in publicly funded procurement decisions. 'We have directed that from 1 July all public entities must use woollen fibres, where practical and appropriate, in government buildings. The new policy, announced in April, directs agencies to identify opportunities to use woollen products, and to properly consider a range of factors in procurement including whole-of-life cost, sustainability and health benefits. 'We're leveraging government spending to back the wool industry and the New Zealand economy. I hope private businesses will follow our lead.' Mark Patterson says the move continues to deliver on a New Zealand First and National Party coalition agreement to prefer the use of woollen fibres in government buildings. 'Woollen fibres create safer, healthier and more sustainable living environments for families. 'We know farmers will share our enthusiasm about this announcement. It is another example of us doing our bit. The Government is determined to help lift the fortunes of the strong wool sector in supporting our sheep farmers' Mr Patterson says. Notes The total value of the new Kāinga Ora contract is commercially sensitive and so can't be disclosed. Kāinga Ora is expected to fit out about 4500 homes in the next three years. Some contracts for carpet in homes have already been let, but under the new supply agreement, newly contracted fit-outs will be met through the wool-carpet supply contract. Where nylon carpet has already been installed in existing homes Kainga Ora will continue to use nylon carpet for single room or smaller patch repairs.

Westpac NZ And Fidelity Life Launch New Digital Guide To Make Life Insurance Easier
Westpac NZ And Fidelity Life Launch New Digital Guide To Make Life Insurance Easier

Scoop

timean hour ago

  • Scoop

Westpac NZ And Fidelity Life Launch New Digital Guide To Make Life Insurance Easier

Press Release – Westpac New Zealand Westpac customers can access the LifeProtect Guide securely through the Westpac One app. After answering simple questions about their income, lifestyle, employment, and personal priorities, theyll receive tailored recommendations on the types … Westpac NZ and Fidelity Life have launched a new LifeProtect Guide online tool to help New Zealanders save time and better understand what's important to them when applying for life and income protection insurance. Westpac customers can access the LifeProtect Guide securely through the Westpac One app. After answering simple questions about their income, lifestyle, employment, and personal priorities, they'll receive tailored recommendations on the types and levels of cover that best suit their circumstances. They can then adjust cover levels to see how changes affect their premiums. 'We know New Zealanders can be uncomfortable talking about protecting their income and life,' says Sarah Hearn, Westpac NZ GM Product, Sustainability and Marketing. 'The LifeProtect Guide helps you to easily navigate that process – either with one of our bankers or from the comfort of your own home. The tool is intuitive and secure, giving people the confidence to make informed decisions about protecting what's important to them.' The modular nature of the LifeProtect product, underwritten by Fidelity Life, allows customers to choose any combination of Life Insurance; Trauma Cover; Income Protection and Permanent Disability insurance. Bronwyn Kirwan, Fidelity Life's Chief Commercial Officer, says the LifeProtect product and guide have been designed to make the process of thinking about and applying for life and income protection insurance as easy as possible. 'Recent Financial Services Council research* indicates that four out of five New Zealanders haven't insured their income against sickness or disability. The LifeProtect Guide is intended to make it easier for customers to work out what's right for them when it comes to protecting the things that are most important,' Ms Kirwan says. 'The guide also allows them to determine what level of cover they're comfortable with then move straight into an online application process, with no need to repeat any of the information already provided.' While almost all New Zealanders insure their cars, for most people, losing their income for a period of time would have a far greater impact on their goals and lifestyle. 'We don't like to think about accidents or illnesses impacting us or those close to us, but the reality is these things can happen. So planning for the future, including how you'd manage if the unthinkable were to happen, is really important,' Ms Hearn says. Westpac's new LifeProtect advertising campaign contrasts how much people are insuring their homes, cars and possessions for with their comparative lack of life or income protection insurance. 'We want to kickstart those conversations or thought processes about how you're prioritising what's important to you,' Ms Hearn says.

Queenstown open for skiing action on Saturday
Queenstown open for skiing action on Saturday

Otago Daily Times

timean hour ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Queenstown open for skiing action on Saturday

It is not too shabby for an opening day. NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson says both The Remarkables and Coronet Peak will open as scheduled from 9am on Saturday, with the latter opening from top to bottom. At Coronet, all the beginner conveyor lifts, the Meadows Chair and Coronet Express would be in action — Rocky Gully and Green gates would not be open, "but we'll be looking to add those in as soon as we can stitch that together". At The Remarkables, the learners' conveyors, Alta and Curvey Basin would be open for action, with Sugar Bowl and Shadow Basin still to come, Mr Anderson said. "Our whole objective in getting both mountains open on the same day is to send a really, really strong signal to the market that ... Queenstown's open for business, and hopefully you see that switch flipped and the town gets busy very quickly." Mr Anderson said last weekend's perfectly timed snowfall had been supplemented by a huge amount of snowmaking, which he believed had been the longest period of snowmaking in Queenstown for a decade. "And the new guns we've got up there, they are just incredible." At The Remarkables, for example, the whales of snow from the guns were higher than the conveyor covers. "It just gives you an idea of the amount of snow they were belting out." He estimated Coronet was opening with between 60cm and 120cm on trail, and about 60cm at The Remarkables. "We're kind of expecting the locals to come out in force once they hear how good the on-trail skiing is ... It'll be nice to get a bit of a dump before school holidays, but with or without it, we're going to have a good school holidays, I can see that." Cardrona, which along with Treble Cone is owned by Queenstown-based company RealNZ, will also open on Saturday. Chief mountains officer Laura Hedley said thanks to an "incredible effort" from the snowmaking team, and some help from Mother Nature, the McDougall's Chondola and the learner conveyors would be spinning. Skiers and boarders would be able to access McDougalls' trail and the beginners' area from Saturday, while the North Face Cardrona parks crew would also put in a few features in McPark, the temporary early-season terrain park under McDougalls. "Our new base area building is nearing completion, and we are aiming to get our new Cardrona Corner retail shop open on Saturday, too," Ms Hedley said. To reflect the early season offering, Cardies day passes will be at early season rates until Whitestar Express opens. Treble Cone is scheduled to open on June 28.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store