Winton, in a statement to the stock exchange, said: \u201cWe are delighted to welcome Michael to Winton\u2019s board as its independent chair. His governance leadership and depth of experience will be invaluable as we focus on stabilising Winton\u2019s operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
But governance is not the only issue plaguing Winton Land and its founder, Christopher Meehan.<\/p>\n
He stood down as CEO after Winton launched an investigation into his behaviour \u2013 the majority shareholder has been at the centre of complaints by staff members, including sexual harassment. He\u2019s previously been ordered to pay more than $100,000 by the Employment Relations Authority for bullying his executive assistant.<\/p>\n
Winton is behind the controversial Sunfield housing development near the Ardmore Airport in Auckland\u2019s south \u2013 it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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\u2019s being built on highly productive rural land.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s also donated \u201cin-kind\u201d, including hosting fundraising dinners for Shane Jones at the Meehans\u2019 sprawling $11 million Queenstown home.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s Ayrburn screen hub development near Queenstown was also given fast-track planning approval.<\/p>\n
Listed in 2021 when it was worth $1.15 billion, Winton\u2019s market value is now about $311m. Its initial share price, $3.87, was down to just over a dollar when it was suspended.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said Christopher Meehan groped her breasts when she was waitressing at one of his venues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so thrown,\u201d she told Newsroom.<\/p>\n
Sunfield wins fast-track approval despite flood-risk legal challenge. Photo \/ Winton Land<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d heard his nickname, \u2018octopus hands\u2019, but I\u2019d never seen him be anything but a gentleman. I really didn\u2019t see it coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
She told Milne she was choosing to speak out because Meehan deserved to be held accountable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refuse to offer him the comfort of my silence,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Milne says the courage of the women in speaking out is impressive.<\/p>\n
He also says that once directors know about such behaviour, they can\u2019t legally stand by and let it happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the points that I\u2019ve 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\u2019s behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI emailed and said \u2018hey look, you guys are liable under the Health and Safety at Work Act \u2013 personally liable \u2013 how comfortable are you that you\u2019re doing everything possible to protect the wellbeing of your staff?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cSteven 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne by one they\u2019ve now resigned, and at the same time we\u2019ve been reporting some of the nature of the complaints against Chris Meehan, so it\u2019s a difficult environment and I don\u2019t think anyone would envy the position of the staff right now,\u201d Milne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn June the company lodged a statement with the NZX, the share market, saying that he\u2019s taken leave. He\u2019s unwell, he\u2019s taken leave. And the company noted in the statement to the NZX that he\u2019d taken sick leave at the business end of an employment procedure that had been initiated by the board.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they say \u2018employment procedure\u2019, I think intimating that they were investigating his actions, his behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the board and Christopher Meehan have some serious questions to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Milne said anyone thinking the governance problems and accusations against Meehan could spell the end for the Sunfield development is probably wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the land there and the consents done, I think if Winton isn\u2019t able to proceed with the project for any reason, it will sell it on to someone else who will.\u201d<\/p>\n