Fearon logging sold, owner angered by 'stifling bureaucracy'

The owner of the lower North Island's biggest log-trucking firm, Fearon Logging, has sold up, saying stifling bureaucracy is killing enterprise.

Kevin Fearon sold his firm to McCarthy Transport for an undisclosed sum. The deal is effective from August 1.

Fearon Logging has been locked into a long-running dispute with Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) over alleged underpaid road users charges.

The LTSA says Fearon Logging owes $348,000 and in the first round of court action last week secured judgment allowing it to press ahead with an inquiry.

Mr Fearon denied any debt and said he had already spent about $40,000 defending himself. He expected to spend another $60,000.

He said his health has been affected by the stress of the claims levelled at him, that he was sick of battling bureaucracy.

This government was the worse administration on record as far as businesses are concerned, Mr Fearon said.

"They have an army of bureaucrats intent on sinking private enterprise from the sanctuary of their salaried positions," he said.

Government interference meant he was "too scared" to open envelopes that arrived in the post.

"The toll on my own health and the stress from government departments has made it untenable to carry on, so I have had to vote with my feet and get out of it," he said.

Mr Fearon said he had a high regard for the owner of McCarthy Transport, and the deal would see his drivers' jobs protected.

A veteran of 30 years in the forestry business, and 24 years the owner of Fearon Logging, he said he now plans to go into land development.

The road user charges dispute was due back in court in August or September.

- nzpa