Latest news with #CountryCalendar
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Vege growing business owes more than $1m
A North Otago organic vegetable growing business, recently approached to appear on Country Calendar, has gone into voluntary liquidation owing more than $1 million, while a subsidiary company owes more than $300,000. Organic Solutions, which traded as Oamaru Organics, is 53.45% owned by James Porteous — who is also the sole director — and Australian-based Lanson International Holdings Pty Ltd (46.55%). Touted as the largest organic market garden in the South Island, it sold vegetables both at a roadside stall at Totara and through the Otago Farmers Market. In a statement, Mr Porteous said the farm had ''long struggled with chronic overstaffing'', which significantly increased its financial burden and led to an accumulation of debt with the IRD. He said he stepped in to directly manage farm operations in August, reducing staff numbers from nine to one and introducing mechanisation. He said the farm became compliant with all ongoing tax obligations and began rapidly repaying historic tax arrears. Per-hectare revenue increased 39% and he proposed a ''realistic'' repayment plan, which was declined by the IRD. The company would continue to operate and supply customers to the best of its ability throughout the farm sale process, he said. Incorporated in 2014, it originally owned Thai restaurants around the South Island and bought the 23ha farm — one of its main suppliers — for $1.7m in 2019 to maintain supply. The deal was later found to have breached the Overseas Investment Act because Lanson International Holdings — whose majority shareholder was Mr Porteous' friend Marc Lanson — owned more than 46%. The rules stated Australians could not have more than a 25% share of any purchase of New Zealand land bigger than 5ha without gaining consent first. Organic Solutions was fined $20,000 and retrospective consent had to be sought. In his first report, liquidator Brenton Hunt, of Insolvency Matters, said the majority of the restaurants were closed due to the outcome of the Covid-19 restrictions. According to Mr Porteous, the business had struggled to be economic for some time. Inland Revenue payments had fallen behind and the IRD had begun recovery action. The last annual accounts completed for the company were in March 2022. Plant and equipment and motor vehicles were to be collected and sold and there was finance owing on vehicles, Mr Hunt said. The land and buildings were also to be listed and sold (first mortgage owing). Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $10,000 and GST and PAYE were estimated at $900,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $1m and the total estimated shortfall to all creditors was estimated at $1,279,500. An associated company, Southern Organics, which is wholly owned by Organic Solutions, of which Mr Porteous was also sole director, was placed in voluntary liquidation the same day. That company, which was incorporated in November 2020 and ceased trading in November last year, produced organic soup products, and bought vegetables from the shareholding company. According to Mr Porteous, the soup products originally sold well but sales were not enough to make it economic and it was very seasonal. At the end of winter last year, the lease of a kitchen in Christchurch was surrendered and trading stopped. Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $20,000, while Inland Revenue GST and PAYE was estimated at $40,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $300,000.
Otago Daily Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Organic vege grower in liquidation
A North Otago organic vegetable growing business, recently approached to appear on Country Calendar, has gone into voluntary liquidation owing more than $1 million, while a subsidiary company owes more than $300,000. Organic Solutions, which traded as Oamaru Organics, is 53.45% owned by James Porteous — who is also the sole director — and Australian-based Lanson International Holdings Pty Ltd (46.55%). Touted as the largest organic market garden in the South Island, it sold vegetables both at a roadside stall at Totara and through the Otago Farmers Market. In a statement, Mr Porteous said the farm had ''long struggled with chronic overstaffing'', which significantly increased its financial burden and led to an accumulation of debt with the IRD. He said he stepped in to directly manage farm operations in August, reducing staff numbers from nine to one and introducing mechanisation. He said the farm became compliant with all ongoing tax obligations and began rapidly repaying historic tax arrears. Per-hectare revenue increased 39% and he proposed a ''realistic'' repayment plan, which was declined by the IRD. The company would continue to operate and supply customers to the best of its ability throughout the farm sale process, he said. Incorporated in 2014, it originally owned Thai restaurants around the South Island and bought the 23ha farm — one of its main suppliers — for $1.7m in 2019 to maintain supply. The deal was later found to have breached the Overseas Investment Act because Lanson International Holdings — whose majority shareholder was Mr Porteous' friend Marc Lanson — owned more than 46%. The rules stated Australians could not have more than a 25% share of any purchase of New Zealand land bigger than 5ha without gaining consent first. Organic Solutions was fined $20,000 and retrospective consent had to be sought. In his first report, liquidator Brenton Hunt, of Insolvency Matters, said the majority of the restaurants were closed due to the outcome of the Covid-19 restrictions. According to Mr Porteous, the business had struggled to be economic for some time. Inland Revenue payments had fallen behind and the IRD had begun recovery action. The last annual accounts completed for the company were in March 2022. Plant and equipment and motor vehicles were to be collected and sold and there was finance owing on vehicles, Mr Hunt said. The land and buildings were also to be listed and sold (first mortgage owing). Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $10,000 and GST and PAYE were estimated at $900,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $1m and the total estimated shortfall to all creditors was estimated at $1,279,500. An associated company, Southern Organics, which is wholly owned by Organic Solutions, of which Mr Porteous was also sole director, was placed in voluntary liquidation the same day. That company, which was incorporated in November 2020 and ceased trading in November last year, produced organic soup products, and bought vegetables from the shareholding company. According to Mr Porteous, the soup products originally sold well but sales were not enough to make it economic and it was very seasonal. At the end of winter last year, the lease of a kitchen in Christchurch was surrendered and trading stopped. Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $20,000, while Inland Revenue GST and PAYE was estimated at $40,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $300,000.
NZ Herald
04-05-2025
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Canterbury rural community saves ewes, cattle and 2250 hens from rising waters
He added that the flooding was the worst they had ever seen, with much of the farm flooded by water that reached the top of their fences. The high ground where the chickens were moved was inundated with half a metre of water. As the Maxons attempted to execute a rescue plan, staff from neighbouring Willesden Farm asked how they could help. 'We had never even met them before in our lives,' Andy said. 'What happened next felt like a dramatic episode of Country Calendar, utes rolling in one after another, trailers hitched and people turning up from all directions,' the Maxons said in a post on Facebook. 'It was just an absolute saviour really because we didn't have dry grass to put [the chickens] on,' Suzy added. With the help of over 20 people, including family, friends and neighbours, 2250 hens, 95 ewes and 16 cattle were rescued and moved to a neighbouring farm with dry ground. Their drinkers and feed trailers were also taken to higher ground. The Maxons said a few of their sheds were also flooded, but their house was not damaged. 'People really sort of went out on a limb for us,' Andy said. 'The community support is just phenomenal... I mean, I don't know how many times I cried that day, but it was a lot,' Suzy added. 'People gave up their time, they, you know, the support they gave us to get our hens and our livelihood of that farm into somewhere where we could survive. 'Yeah, it was just amazing.' 'You reminded us what the power of the rural farming community really means,' the Maxons' Facebook post concluded. - RNZ
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
How A Small Community Helped Save Thousands Of Chooks From Canterbury Floods
Much of Canterbury has been inundated with flood water after days of heavy rainfall., Digital Journalist A small rural community has come together to save thousands of hens and other animals from Canterbury's rising flood waters. Forage Farm NZ in Motukarara has been inundated with flood water – like much of Canterbury – and animals soon became in need of a rescue. Farm owners Andy and Suzy Maxon told RNZ they moved the animals to higher ground multiple times 'thinking we had 300ml up our sleeve'. 'Sure enough we came out [on Friday morning] and the whole yard, whole farm was under water,' Andy said. He added the flooding was the worst they had ever seen, with much of the farm flooded by water that reached the top of their fences. The high ground where the chickens were moved was inundated with half a metre of water. As the Maxons attempted to execute a rescue plan, staff from a neighbouring farm – Willesden Farm – asked how they could help. 'We had never even meet them before in our lives,' Andy said. 'What happened next felt like a dramatic episode of Country Calendar, utes rolling in one after another, trailers hitched and people turning up from all directions,' the Maxons said in a post on Facebook. 'It was just an absolute saviour really because we didn't have dry grass to put [the chickens] on,' Suzy added. With the help of over 20 people including family, friends and neighbours, 2,250 hens, 95 ewes and 16 cattle were rescued and moved to a neighbouring farm with dry ground. Their drinkers and feed trailers were also taken higher ground. The Maxons said a few of their sheds were also flooded, but their house was not damaged. 'People really sort of went out on a limb for us,' Andy said. 'The community support is just phenomenal… I mean I don't know how many times I cried that day but it was a lot,' Suzy added. 'People gave up their time, they, you know, the support they gave us to get our hens and our livelihood of that farm into somewhere where we could survive – yeah it was just amazing.' 'You reminded us what the power of the rural farming community really means,' the Maxon's Facebook post concluded.
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
How A Small Community Helped Save Thousands Of Chooks From Canterbury Floods
, Digital Journalist A small rural community has come together to save thousands of hens and other animals from Canterbury's rising flood waters. Forage Farm NZ in Motukarara has been inundated with flood water - like much of Canterbury - and animals soon became in need of a rescue. Farm owners Andy and Suzy Maxon told RNZ they moved the animals to higher ground multiple times "thinking we had 300ml up our sleeve". "Sure enough we came out [on Friday morning] and the whole yard, whole farm was under water," Andy said. He added the flooding was the worst they had ever seen, with much of the farm flooded by water that reached the top of their fences. The high ground where the chickens were moved was inundated with half a metre of water. As the Maxons attempted to execute a rescue plan, staff from a neighbouring farm - Willesden Farm - asked how they could help. "We had never even meet them before in our lives," Andy said. "What happened next felt like a dramatic episode of Country Calendar, utes rolling in one after another, trailers hitched and people turning up from all directions," the Maxons said in a post on Facebook. "It was just an absolute saviour really because we didn't have dry grass to put [the chickens] on," Suzy added. With the help of over 20 people including family, friends and neighbours, 2,250 hens, 95 ewes and 16 cattle were rescued and moved to a neighbouring farm with dry ground. Their drinkers and feed trailers were also taken higher ground. The Maxons said a few of their sheds were also flooded, but their house was not damaged. "People really sort of went out on a limb for us," Andy said. "The community support is just phenomenal... I mean I don't know how many times I cried that day but it was a lot," Suzy added. "People gave up their time, they, you know, the support they gave us to get our hens and our livelihood of that farm into somewhere where we could survive - yeah it was just amazing." "You reminded us what the power of the rural farming community really means," the Maxon's Facebook post concluded.
