Decision reserved on bid by Hotchin

Mark Hotchin. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A High Court judge has reserved her decision on a bid from former Hanover director Mark Hotchin to have an order freezing some of his assets lifted.

Justice Helen Winkelmann allowed journalists to sit in on the Auckland hearing yesterday but banned reporting on the details of what was discussed.

Journalists are permitted to report on Justice Winkelmann's decision when it is released.

Hotchin did not appear in person yesterday.

The Financial Markets Authority - formerly the Securities Commission - froze Hotchin's assets in December in an unprecedented display of power but has yet to issue proceedings against him or indicate what any charges would be.

It is investigating whether the registered prospectuses of Hanover Finance, Hanover Capital and United Finance breached the Securities Act when Hotchin was a director of all three.

Some 16,000 investors have lost more than $500 million in the companies.

Justice Winkelmann dismissed an application in May to overturn the freeze on some of Hotchin's New Zealand assets and said the authority had "good grounds" to investigate him for alleged breaches of the Securities Act.

The asset preservation orders were put in place to ensure that if any investors wished to take civil action against Hotchin in the future, money would be available should they win.

Although parts of Hotchin's assets are still frozen, Justice Winkelmann has removed the freeze over household assets for use by Hotchin's Australia-based family.