McDonald Vague Limited

02/09/2026

Can directors be personally liable for a company's GST debt?

Many directors assume that GST is solely a company liability. However, there are circumstances where directors can face personal exposure when a company fails to meet its tax obligations.

Understanding the risks is an important part of good governance, particularly when a business is experiencing cash flow challenges or financial distress.

Read the full article below.

8 August 2026 A hundred-thousand-dollar question in many situations, and one it is important to understand the risk around. In short directors can be...

26/08/2026

🚛 Road User Charges in Liquidation: Why Do They Get Priority?

If a transport company enters liquidation, where do unpaid Road User Charges (RUCs) sit in the pecking order of creditors?

Many business owners, directors, and advisers are surprised to learn that RUC debts can receive preferential treatment in a liquidation. Understanding how these claims are ranked is important for anyone involved in the transport industry.

Read our latest article to learn how RUC liabilities are treated and what this means for creditors and stakeholders:

🔗 https://www.mvp.co.nz/articles/liquidation/how-do-road-user-charges-get-priority-in-liquidation

8 August 2026 The reason Road User Charges (RUC) effectively "follow" a vehicle despite being an unsecured debt in a liquidation lies in the statutory...

18/08/2026

Our latest newsletter covers three articles the first is our regular feature Insolvency by the Numbers covering July 2026.
Our second article looks at Can a Director be Personally Liable for a GST? and how that may occur.
The third article covers How do Road User Charges get Priority in Liquidation? how this occurs and the risks for secured creditors.

Check out the full newsletter below.

Our latest newsletter covers three articles the first is our regular feature Insolvency by the Numbers covering July 2026 covering the first 7 months of the year as we head into the back half of 2026. Our second article looks at Can a Director be Personally Liable for a GST? and how that may occur.....

11/08/2026

Insolvency Stats: NZ Insolvency stats for July 2026 are now available, check out our link below to see how corporate insolvencies have continued to climb.

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website to get them direct to your inbox.

05/08/2026

It is a common misconception that a corporate liquidation marks the permanent end of a director’s business career. In New Zealand, the short answer to whether a director can start another business after liquidation is:

Usually yes, provided there are no court orders or statutory restrictions preventing them from doing so.

Check out our article on when a director may end up restricted from starting a new business.

13 July 2026 It is a common misconception that a corporate liquidation marks the permanent end of a director’s business career. In New Zealand, the sh...

29/07/2026

The High Court's decision in McNamara Farms Ltd v Lopez and Vermaak [2026] NZHC 1447 is believed to be the first case to consider section 61 of the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2019 (FDMA). In what Justice Becroft described as an exceptional situation, the Court authorised the appointment of receivers over a dairy herd before the completion of the farm debt mediation process.

The decision provides important guidance for secured creditors, rural lenders and insolvency practitioners dealing with farm assets that are at risk of being dissipated before mediation can take place.

13 July 2026 The High Court's decision in McNamara Farms Ltd v Lopez and Vermaak [2026] NZHC 1447 is believed to be the first case to consider section...

22/07/2026

Insolvency Stats: NZ Insolvency stats for June 2026 are now available, check out our link below to see how corporate insolvencies have continued to climb.

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website to get them direct to your inbox.

13 July 2026 Winding Up Applications Winding up applications continued their upward trend during the first half of 2026, with 686 applications filed b...

15/07/2026

Our latest newsletter covers three articles the first is our regular feature Insolvency by the Numbers covering June 2026.

It has been another busy month on the stats front to close out the first half of the year.

Our second article looks at a recent decision where the High Court Grants Receiver Appointment Under Emergency Powers in the Farm Debt Mediation Act.

The third article covers Can Directors Start Another Business After Liquidation? and what may prevent them from doing so.

Check out the full newsletter below.

Our latest newsletter covers three articles the first is our regular feature Insolvency by the Numbers covering June 2026. It has been another busy month on the stats front to close out the first half of the year.  Our second article looks at a recent decision where the High Court Grants Recei...

07/07/2026

Budget 2026 may not have been pitched as insolvency focused, but in practice, that’s exactly what parts of it deliver.

Two changes stand out. First, unpaid shareholder current accounts will now be taxed six months after a company is liquidated or struck off. Second, Inland Revenue is getting a further $15m per annum to sharpen its enforcement capability.

Check out our article below for further details.

12 June 2026 Budget 2026 may not have been pitched as insolvency focused, but in practice, that’s exactly what parts of it deliver. Two changes stand...

01/07/2026

Statutory demands (or Section 289 notices) pose a big threat to New Zealand businesses. These are written requests from a creditor for a debtor to pay overdue debt, with a payment term of 15 working days.

A creditor can serve a statutory demand on a company if formal demands for payment or debt collection services have not proven effective and the debt is not disputed.

Check out or article below for further details.

Statutory demands (or Section 289 notices) pose a big threat to New Zealand businesses. These are written requests from a creditor for a debtor to pay...