E-bike shop at centre of Darleen Tana scandal in liquidation

The e-bike business at the centre of allegations made against independent MP Darleen Tana and her husband has gone into liquidation this afternoon.

The findings of a Green Party-commissioned investigation into Tana were publically released earlier today after she resigned from the party last week.

Her husband Christian Hoff-Nielsen owns the business which has become the centre of migrant worker exploitation allegations. The allegations emerged in March.

A notice seen at the Bikes and Beyond shop in Auckland's Newmarket told customers the store was "temporarily closed" and suggested they email insolvency firm Khov Jones.

Firm director Steven Khov confirmed to 1News that the business was now in liquidation.

"I can confirm that the company, E Cycles NZ Limited which trades as Bikes and Beyond has been placed into liquidation," he said in a statement.

"Myself and Kieran Jones of Khov Jones have been appointed liquidators of the company.

"The company trades at three locations — Newmarket, Waiheke and Blenheim.

"The stores are not trading at this stage whilst we determine the situation and the company's affairs. We have had members of our team attend the three locations today and secured the premises, stock and assets."

E Cycles NZ now had "liquidators, receivers or voluntary administrators" appointed, according to documents posted to the Companies Register website at 4.31pm.

Tana was seen at Parliament earlier today as she considers her political future and pleas from her former party to resign as an MP. She hasn't committed to making the trip to Wellington in order to resume her seat, but has made preparations for if she does.

Speaking to 1News yesterday, she said she was continuing to consult with others on whether she should stay on in Parliament long-term as an independent MP.

These included her whānau, hapu and iwi groups, as well as people she works with in the "oceans and forest space", executive assistant support and her lawyer.

A lawyer commissioned by the Green Party to investigate Tana and her husband's actions suggested the pair gave her contradictory statements, labelling their responses to the review as "significantly compromised".

In addition, investigator Rachel Burt said she heavily doubted the credibility of both Tana and husband Christian Hoff-Neilsen, saying the evidence provided was "lengthy and often unclear".

Burt opined that it was "more likely than not" that Tana was aware of several allegations of migrant worker exploitation made against Hoff-Neilsen's business and that she was "operationally involved" in the e-bike business over a long period.

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