At about 4.30pm, the Companies House updated its website to say that a liquidator, receiver or voluntary administrator had been appointed to E Cycles NZ Limited.
The liquidators are Kieran Michael Jones and Stephen Cough.
When the Herald visited, two Hoff Jones accountants were combing the store.
They did not discuss activity inside the store.
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The Herald saw an accountant stick a sign in the window which read: “This business is temporarily closed. For any enquiries please contact admin@khovjones.co.nz.”
Insolvency, forensic accounting and consulting firm Hob Jones has closed Bikes and Beyond, owned by Christian Hof Nielsen, husband of former Greens MP Darlene Tana. Photo / Alex Barton The Bikes and Beyond store in Auckland's Newmarket closed on Wednesday while several accountants from Hob Jones combed through the interior of the premises. Photo / Alex Barton
According to its website, Khov Jones works in the areas of forensic accounting reviews, voluntary liquidations, solvent liquidations, court appointed liquidations, insolvency administration, insolvent trading, current account shortfalls, breach of directors' duties and voluntary administration.
Meanwhile, a second shop on Waiheke Island is being advertised on TradeMe for $0.
The listing describes the store as a “thriving rental business” with “annual net profits of more than $350,000.”
The business was listed on Tuesday, July 2nd.
Earlier today, the Green Party published a summary of its report into what Tana knew about alleged exploitation of migrants at her husband's cycling company, E-Cycle.
The report was critical of Tana and her husband, Hof Nielsen.
Despite her claims that she wasn't involved, she continued to be involved with the company and her involvement was “extensive” at times, according to the report.
“In summary, her involvement in the day-to-day operations of E-Cycle appears to have diminished around mid-2019, but she continued to support and assist with the business over the following three years,” the executive summary said.
Darlene Tana Hoff Nielsen.
“At times this support has been extensive and at other times has involved more back office supervisory support such as payroll administration, assistance with calculating holiday pay, relief efforts in stores to cover staff absences and support and liaison with the company’s lawyers.”
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The report details a personal complaint made by Chuck Simpson against the company on January 11, 2019, while Tana was still a director and shareholder in the company.
Simpson had worked briefly at Green Wheels, a Blenheim shop which operates as an associate company of E-Cycle. He left his job after two weeks, claiming the shop was in “disarray” and that both suppliers and employees had not been paid. The company's lawyers refused to mediate and Simpson took legal action with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
Darlene Tana's husband, Christian Hoff Nielsen, said he had “no news” about allegations that his company, Bikes & Beyond, exploited migrant workers. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Tana disputes the contents of the report by lawyer Rachel Burt and the process used to complete it.
Hof Nielsen denied all allegations of exploitation at the time, telling the Herald: “This is not news, this is not news.”
Tana was unavailable for an interview with the Herald after the Green Party announced on July 8 that it would ask him to resign from parliament.
Raphael Franks is a breaking news reporter based in Auckland. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito trainee in 2022.
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