Mainzeal

Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd was one of the largest New Zealand property and construction companies[1] until being placed into receivership on 6 February 2013 and then being placed into liquidation on 28 February 2013.[2] According to its website, Mainzeal was involved in delivering $7.5 billion of construction projects across New Zealand.[3] It was held by Richina Global Real Estate, which is part of Richina Inc, an independent and closely held New Zealand-headquartered Asia Pacific holding company.[4]

Mainzeal Property & Construction
TypePrivate company
IndustryConstruction
Founded1968
Headquarters
Auckland
,
New Zealand
Area served
New Zealand
ServicesConstruction
Number of employees
500
ParentRichina Global Real Estate
DivisionsConstruction, Interiors, Project Definition, Infrastructure, Facilities Management, Living
Websitewww.mainzeal.com

History
Mainzeal managed the demolition of the Clarendon Tower in Christchurch

It was founded in 1968 as a branch of Mainline Corporation, an Australian company, to develop 7 acres (28,000 m2) of harbour-front land in the Auckland CBD as part of Mainline-Dillingham-Fletcher. Mainline Contractors Pty Ltd was established from this base and in 1969, became Mainline Corporation of New Zealand, a publicly listed New Zealand company, adopting the name Mainzeal Corporation Ltd in 1975.

The Richina holding company was created when Mainzeal acquired a New Zealand leather business (since sold) and in 1996 it changed its name to Richina Pacific (retaining the Mainzeal name for its construction unit) and started investing in China, where its owners saw major business opportunities.[5] Richina Pacific delisted from NZX in January 2009.[6]

In 2006 Mainzeal experienced some financial setbacks, posting large losses associated mainly with the Scene One, Scene Two and Scene Three apartment developments in the Auckland CBD and the nearby 12,200-seat Vector Arena in Quay Park.[7] The losses on these projects were recovered, with Mainzeal's pre-tax earnings reaching US$1.6 million surplus compared to US$2.8 million loss in the previous year.[8]

Following the Christchurch earthquake, 2010 Vero appointed the MWH Mainzeal joint venture as their preferred partner in their efforts to rebuild Canterbury.[9] In 2011 Mainzeal expanded its services to include facilities management and entered the residential market with a division called Mainzeal Living.[10]

On 6 February 2013 Mainzeal Property and Construction went into receivership, leaving workers and subcontractors locked out of worksites.[11][12] On 13 February 2013 receivers took control of Vic 200 Ltd, the company that owns Mainzeal's head office building in central Auckland. In the same week another Richina owned company, King Facade Ltd, went into voluntary liquidation.[13] On 28 February 2013 Mainzeal Property & Construction Ltd and other companies in the group were placed into liquidation – making a total of twelve companies in liquidation. The companies now under the control of the liquidators were: Mainzeal Group, Mainzeal Property and Construction, Mainzeal Living, 200 Vic, Building Futures Group Holding, Building Futures Group, Mainzeal Residential, Mainzeal Construction, Mainzeal, Mainzeal Construction SI, MPC NZ, RGRE.[14] By 9 April, the company had only 14 full-time staff left, down from 500.[15]

In 2019, the High Court of New Zealand ordered Mainzeal's former directors to pay NZ$36 million in penalties for breaching directors' duties and carrying on in a manner likely to create a substantial risk of serious loss to creditors. In March 2021 this order was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which found that although the directors had breached their duties, this had not caused any actual loss to creditors. However, the Court found that the directors had breached other duties by entering into obligations while insolvent. The Court sent the matter back to the High Court to reach a decision on the total amount of liability, as it did not have enough information to assess the amount owing.[16] An appeal to the Supreme Court resulted in a ruling in August 2023 that the directors were liable for $36m in damages.[17]

Major projects

References
  1. Gibson, Anne (5 March 2006). "Red ink reins in builder Mainzeal". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. "Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited | Insolvency Watch – Solvency Matters". Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  3. Mainzeal (from the Mainzeal website). Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  4. About Us (from the Richina website). Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  5. Niesche, Christopher (6 March 2006). "Christopher Niesche: Being all over the place is normal for Richina Pacific". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  6. Gaynor, Brian (3 April 2010). "Directors need a message to cough up". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  7. Gibson, Anne (2 March 2006). "Mainzeal takes loss on major projects". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  8. "Richina gains 15pc after Mainzeal recovery". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  9. Frances, Helen (16 November 2011). "Quake city needs army of rebuilders". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  10. Horan, Noel (December 2011). "Residential Building with Mainzeal Living". Mainsite Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  11. "Mainzeal enters receivership". Stuff. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013. "Mainzeal goes into receivership". The New Zealand Herald. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  12. "Mainzeal subcontractors locked out". 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  13. "Mainzeal collapse creates aftershocks". 16 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  14. "Mainzeal liquidators delay first report". 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  15. "Mainzeal workers slashed to 14 full-time from 500". BusinessDesk. 9 April 2013 – via Scoop.
  16. Hurley, Sam (31 March 2021). "Mainzeal directors liable for reckless trading but overturn $36m penalties, Court of Appeal calls for legislation review". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  17. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/132799391/former-prime-minister-dame-jenny-shipleys-mainzeal-supreme-court-appeal-fails
  18. "F&P chooses Mainzeal". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  19. Fairfax NZ News; Stuff website (1 January 2009). "Mainzeal wins contract for $250m brewery". Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  20. "Hospital contract to Mainzeal". The New Zealand Herald. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  21. "NZDF give $30m contract to expand Ohakea base". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  22. Burgess, Dave & Newton, Kate (24 November 2009). "$4m cut in Kilbirnie sports centre bill". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  23. Transpower website (11 August 2011). "HVDC Pole 3 Project Wins Two Safety Awards". Archived from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
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