David Henderson (New Zealand)

David Henderson is a Christchurch, New Zealand based property developer.

In 1994 he founded the Libertarian magazine the "Free Radical". [cite web | title = 30 Issues On | work = The Free Radical Online | url = http://www.freeradical.co.nz/content/30/30deborah.php] He was also a student of Zenith Applied Philosophy, "It really sparked my interest. I found it greatly stimulating and inspiring, immensely so. They got a terribly bad name, a bad rap."cite web | title = Change of Heart | work = New Zealand Listener | url = http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3471/features/7508/change_of_heart.html | date = 2006-11-18]

From 1992 to 1995 he was audited 27 times after claiming a GST refund and the Inland Revenue Department demanded he pay $NZ924,341 in taxes and penalties. He was charged with fraud, his business failed and he was bankrupted and had to sell his house. The IRD eventually conceded that he did not owe it $NZ924,341, and fraud charges against him were dropped. They also admitted that they owed him $NZ64,000.This experience led him to write a book "Be Very Afraid: One Man’s Stand Against the IRD" in 1999 his story was made into a film by South Pacific Pictures, [cite web | title = Entrepreneur's tax battle subject of film | work = The Star Canterbury | url = http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3732555&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection= | date = 2007-05-04] entitled "We're Here To Help".

Henderson's company, Property Ventures Limited is currently undertaking a number of developments including the billion dollar new town, Five Mile, in Queenstown.

In November 2007 saw the opening in Christchurch of a new style of hotel named [http://www.hotelso.co.nz HotelSO] . This building, acquired by Henderson in 2004, was occupied by the Inland Revenue Department.

Applications were made in the High Court at Christchurch on 16 May 2008 to have Mr Henderson's Five Mile Holdings and Property Ventures placed in liquidation. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4597004a6530.html Liquidation application]

In early August 2008, the Christchurch City Council held a short-notice urgent meeting about sensitive central city property purchases, then on 8 August 2008 announced [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/MediaReleases/2008/August/08164234.asp that it would buy five of Henderson's properties] for approximately $NZ17 million. Henderson was to have first option to buy back the properties. This decision caused [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4652136a6009.html much civic controversy] .

The other David Henderson

Christchurch-based property developer "Hendo" is often confused with Auckland based property developer "Hendo".

Auckland property developer David Henderson is one of the city's most influential businessmen and is said to have development work worth up to NZ$1 billion under his belt.

The son of a fitter and turner grew up in Milford, and started his empire by renovating old Ponsonby houses. In the 1970s, he opened the Stove Shop, a second-hand dealership in Ponsonby Rd. In 1997 he bought and developed Princess Wharf and has since developed the $100 million Interplex industrial park at Albany, Q City and Q Central apartment block and Precinct apartments. [cite web | title = Profile: David Henderson, Auckland | work = The New Zealand Herald | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/organisation/story.cfm?o_id=176&ObjectID=10339271 | date = 2005-05-08] .

References

5. Press article about liquidation application [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4597004a6530.html]

Links

* [http://www.heretohelp.co.nz/ We're Here To Help]
* [http://www.propertyventures.co.nz Property Ventures Website]
* [http://www.fivemile.co.nz Five Mile Town development]
* [http://www.hotelso.co.nz HotelSO website]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4597004a6530.html Liquidation application]
* [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/MediaReleases/2008/August/08164234.asp CCC media release]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4652136a6009.html Controversy over CCC buyout]