3 Sep 2024

Liquidators appointed to investigate Waitonui Group

12:57 pm on 3 September 2024
Brighter Future - Dairy. Dairy farming family the Mathieson's, Ewen, Dianne and Melissa talk about the boom and bust of their industry since 2008 and how they got through some of the tougher times.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Liquidators have been appointed to investigate the books and affairs of large dairy farming enterprise, Waitonui Group.

The company which operated three large dairy farms - one in Taupō and two in North Otago - went into receivership in May because it breached its farm debt mediation agreement, and also had significant cashflow issues.

Receivers said its cashflow was hit by on-farm inflation and a lack of farm infrastructure investment affected its productivity.

They said $35 million was owed by the company.

But liquidator Tony Maginness of firm Baker Tilly Staples Rodway said they won't know the total amount owed to creditors until their claims were submitted.

Maginness said they were reviewing the asset and creditor position of the companies - and its books, records and affairs were under investigation.