Rodney Hide.
Former Act New Zealand leader Rodney Hide supported a
long-term friend, troubled property developer Dave Henderson,
in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Henderson entered no plea to the two charges laid against him
by the Inland Revenue Department, which had withdrawn seven
of its original charges.
He was remanded on bail until July 6 when he will attend a
post-committal conference, conditions of his bail are to
reside at his current address in Gibbston valley. Mr Hide
would also stay at that Gibbston address this week while on
holiday. He had gone to court in support of his "number one
friend", the former MP said.
"I'm staying with Dave and went along out of courtesy."
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times, Henderson
said Mr Hide was "fascinated by the whole process" of the
court and his case.
"Rod's a mate and had come along to sit in. He's been a
friend of mine for 20 to 30 years.
"Look, I am a big boy and I can stand on my own two feet. I'm
not too worried about that business."
The 56-year-old former Five Mile developer was charged with
aiding and abetting Dweller Ltd to commit an offence under
the Tax Administration Act 1994.
The two charges relate to incidents between May and September
2010 and October 2010 and January 2011 where he allegedly
committed nine offences against the administration Act 1994
of tax deductions for purposes other than payment to the IRD.
Payments ranged between $6613.82 and $30,225.85 and totalled
$183,232.64.
The Companies Office shows Dweller Ltd was incorporated on
April 3, 2006, and placed in liquidation on December 13,
2010. Its sole director is listed as David Ian Henderson, who
was behind the failed Five Mile development at State Highway
6 and colloquially known as "Hendo's Hole".
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