David Henderson (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
David Henderson is a Christchurch
, New Zealand
based property developer.
In 1994 he founded the Libertarian
magazine the Free Radical. 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."
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 2007 his story was made into a film by South Pacific Pictures
, 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 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.
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 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 much civic controversy.
The High Court in Christchurch placed Henderson in bankruptcy on 29 November 2010.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
based property developer.
In 1994 he founded the Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
magazine the Free Radical. He was also a student of Zenith Applied Philosophy
Zenith Applied Philosophy
Zenith Applied Philosophy is a Christchurch, New Zealand based organisation founded by John Dalhoff in 1974. ZAP has a world view which is a combination of Scientology, Eastern mysticism and the ideas of the American John Birch Society. There is extensive overlap between the organisation and the...
, "It really sparked my interest. I found it greatly stimulating and inspiring, immensely so. They got a terribly bad name, a bad rap."
From 1992 to 1995 he was audited 27 times after claiming a GST
Goods and Services Tax (New Zealand)
Goods and Services Tax is a value added tax introduced in New Zealand on 1 October 1986 at 10%. It later increased to 12.5% on 1 July 1989 and was further increased to 15% on 1 October 2010....
refund and the Inland Revenue Department
Inland Revenue Department (New Zealand)
Inland Revenue , previously known as the Inland Revenue Department, is the New Zealand government department responsible for the collection of over 80% of the Crown's revenue in New Zealand. It also collects and disburses social support programme payments and provides the government with policy...
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 2007 his story was made into a film by South Pacific Pictures
South Pacific Pictures
South Pacific Pictures is a television production company based in New Zealand. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market....
, entitled We're Here To Help
We're Here To Help
We're Here To Help is a 2007 Kafkaesque comedy film written and directed by Jonothan Cullinane and produced by South Pacific Pictures.- Plot :...
.
Henderson's company, Property Ventures Limited is currently undertaking a number of developments including the billion dollar new town, Five Mile, in Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
.
In November 2007 saw the opening in Christchurch of a new style of hotel named 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.
In early August 2008, the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
held a short-notice urgent meeting about sensitive central city property purchases, then on 8 August 2008 announced 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 much civic controversy.
The High Court in Christchurch placed Henderson in bankruptcy on 29 November 2010.