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A 23% spike in coal volumes to 610,709 tonnes led a 13% increase in bulk trade to 1.9 metric tonnes at Lyttelton Port Company during the half year to December. That helped the country's third largest port to a 7.6% increase in revenues to $108.5 million, with net profit after tax up almost a fifth at $2.3m. And while container numbers were down 4% on the comparable period at 208,829 twenty-foot-equivalent-units (TEU), refrigerated volumes continued to track up. The port operator paid a final dividend to its Christchurch council parent of $7.69m, taking the 12-month stipend to $11.5m, which was slightly down on the $12.5m for the prior year. However, chief executive Graeme Sumner said the results were "another step" on the road towards a financially sustainable organisation. Sumner has come under fire by port workers for his restructuring plans, which were a big part of a $2.9m increase in expenses to $72.7m for the six months.
The Serious Fraud Office has brought 33 charges against a television producer, accusing him of fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars.
The SFO filed the charges in the Auckland District against Alexander Breingan, alleging he made false representations and used forged documents to access more than $4.3m of Government-funded rebates and $10.2m in lending.
The alleged offending relates to 13 TV programmes that were produced or proposed to be produced by Breingan through his Stripe Studios companies, which collapsed in 2024.
The matter was originally referred to the SFO by the New Zealand Film Commission, which raised concerns about applications Breingan made for the New Zealand Screen Production rebate.
Breingan currently lives abroad and is yet to appear in court.
