Receivers control five Stonewood businesses

Brent Mettrick, managing director of Stonewood Homes in Christchurch . Supplied 23 FEB 2016

KordaMentha has control of five businesses connected to Christchurch home builder Stonewood Homes.

On Stonewood's web site, details are given of a further two companies in receivership, after this week's announcement that Grant Graham and Neale Jackson of KordaMentha had been appointed receivers and managers of three business.

Those three are the master franchisor of the nation-wide Stonewood Group, Stonewood New Zealand Ltd, and two sister companies: Stonewood Homes Ltd Sterling Homes Ltd.

But Stonewood's web site says two others are also in receivership: Holmfirth Group and Holmfirth Properties, both with addresses given as Stonewood's headquarters in Harewood and both with the sole director Brent Alfred Mettrick.

He is Stonewood's founder and managing director and Holmfirth Properties was previously called Andersen Mettrick.

Mettrick has declined to comment to the Herald on the situation this week.

"All media has to be via Grant Graham or Neale Jackson," he said.

Stonewood explained the situation further.

"The receivers are now in control of the assets and undertaking of these companies. The receivers stress that the receiverships do not affect any of the other independently owned Stonewood franchises operating throughout New Zealand."

KordaMentha said its appointment was requested "by the companies' director".
Companies Office records show that to be Mettrick.

Stonewood says it has built more than 6000 New Zealand houses.

"Stonewood Homes is one of the largest new home builders in New Zealand. We have been building new homes since 1987 and have now built over 6000 homes throughout New Zealand," it says.

Graham said Stonewood had 110 houses under construction at the time of the receivership on Monday, and about $15 million is owed to unsecured creditors, although further details are yet to emerge.

Garrit Van T Veen, Southern Lakes Scaffolds' managing director, said Stonewood owed his business $138,000 yet he has not heard a word from either Stonewood or the receivers.