Winton, in a statement to the stock exchange, said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael to Winton’s board as its independent chair. His governance leadership and depth of experience will be invaluable as we focus on stabilising Winton’s operations.”
But governance is not the only issue plaguing Winton Land and its founder, Christopher Meehan.
He stood down as CEO after Winton launched an investigation into his behaviour – the majority shareholder has been at the centre of complaints by staff members, including sexual harassment. He’s previously been ordered to pay more than $100,000 by the Employment Relations Authority for bullying his executive assistant.
Winton is behind the controversial Sunfield housing development near the Ardmore Airport in Auckland’s south – it’s planned to be a solar-powered and eventually car-free green utopia for just under 4000 residents, which has just got permission from a fast-track panel to go ahead.
It’s also on a flood plain and the Auckland Council is taking legal action challenging that decision. The council says the development is out of sequence and the panel failed to fully consider impacts on water and wastewater infrastructure, stormwater and flood risks, and the fact it’s being built on highly productive rural land.
The Meehans have donated more than $212,000 to National, Act and NZ First to help them win the last election and this one; it’s also donated “in-kind”, including hosting fundraising dinners for Shane Jones at the Meehans’ sprawling $11 million Queenstown home.
The company’s Ayrburn screen hub development near Queenstown was also given fast-track planning approval.
Listed in 2021 when it was worth $1.15 billion, Winton’s market value is now about $311m. Its initial share price, $3.87, was down to just over a dollar when it was suspended.
Milne has spoken to a number of staff, mainly from the Ayrburn complex which has about 10 bars and restaurants in it. Two women complained of sexual harassment, and one details what happened to her on The Detail podcast.
She said Christopher Meehan groped her breasts when she was waitressing at one of his venues.
“I was so thrown,” she told Newsroom.
Sunfield wins fast-track approval despite flood-risk legal challenge. Photo / Winton Land
“I’d heard his nickname, ‘octopus hands’, but I’d never seen him be anything but a gentleman. I really didn’t see it coming.”
She told Milne she was choosing to speak out because Meehan deserved to be held accountable.
“I refuse to offer him the comfort of my silence,” she said.
Milne says the courage of the women in speaking out is impressive.
He also says that once directors know about such behaviour, they can’t legally stand by and let it happen.
“One of the points that I’ve made in talking to directors of this company is that directors are individually liable under the Health and Safety at Work Act. I messaged and emailed a number of them about this a good month ago as Newsroom reported more and more complaints from employees about Christopher Meehan’s behaviour.
“I emailed and said ‘hey look, you guys are liable under the Health and Safety at Work Act – personally liable – how comfortable are you that you’re doing everything possible to protect the wellbeing of your staff?’
“Steven Joyce, in his brief stint as chair, assured me that they were very focused on that, that they were doing everything possible to protect their staff health and safety.
“One by one they’ve now resigned, and at the same time we’ve been reporting some of the nature of the complaints against Chris Meehan, so it’s a difficult environment and I don’t think anyone would envy the position of the staff right now,” Milne said.
“In June the company lodged a statement with the NZX, the share market, saying that he’s taken leave. He’s unwell, he’s taken leave. And the company noted in the statement to the NZX that he’d taken sick leave at the business end of an employment procedure that had been initiated by the board.
“When they say ‘employment procedure’, I think intimating that they were investigating his actions, his behaviour.
“I think the board and Christopher Meehan have some serious questions to answer.”
But Milne said anyone thinking the governance problems and accusations against Meehan could spell the end for the Sunfield development is probably wrong.
“With the land there and the consents done, I think if Winton isn’t able to proceed with the project for any reason, it will sell it on to someone else who will.”
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The Detail is produced by Newsroom for RNZ, and made possible by NZ on Air. Photo / RNZ