Winton Land was majority-owned, chaired and run by the mogul Christopher Meehan – and he’s always been quick to sic his lawyers onto any government agency, company, media organisation or employee who stood in his way.
He and his wife Michaela have donated more than $212,000 to National, Act and NZ First to help them win the last election and this one; ministers duly added their firm’s contentious Sunfield housing project and Ayrburn screen hub to the fast-track programme.
This year both projects were approved. “People didn’t challenge him very often, because they were afraid,” says one former worker.
But this week, something changed. After pausing trading in the company’s shares, Winton announced to NZX investors that Meehan was taking leave as CEO for health reasons, effective immediately.
“Mr Meehan’s leave has been notified during the concluding stages of a board-led employment process with Mr Meehan,” the company said, in a statement lodged by Justine Hollows, its general manager of corporate services. “The Board will update the market on further material developments.”
The company has a market capitalisation of $450m. Its share price dropped on news of Meehan’s exit.
He was already known to be a mercurial character. Meehan admitted to the Employment Relations Authority in 2024 that he gets “frustrated”, “stormy” and “colourful” when employees didn’t live up to his high standards, and sometimes he swore when he needed to make his point.
The Winton work environment was not one that suits everyone, he said. Some found the high standards too exacting of them, and went on to do other things, but the majority were loyal and thrived.
‘I hope this gives others a safe space to come forward to stop behaviour like this.’
Leah McCann, former executive assistant
The authority was told he blew up at one manager: “I pay people to do their f***ing job, if they can’t they are gone.”
When he discovered the ham in the office fridge had expired, he allegedly banged a receptionist’s desk: “I didn’t care how much it f***in’ cost, just get it and make sure that there is always f***in’ ham there at all times.”
The authority awarded $105,000 to another employee, his Auckland-based former executive assistant, Leah McCann, after she complained he had sworn at her and threatened her employment, because his business class seat was too close to the toilets on an Emirates flight home from Europe.
“That was the worst f***ing flight I have ever f***ing taken, how the f*** did I end up in seat 29 between the bar and the toilet?” he shouted at her.
She alleged Winton failed to address the distress and harm she suffered from his actions, told her the behaviour would likely continue, and pressured her to resign while on sick leave.
This week, McCann is speaking publicly for the first time. “I hope this gives others a safe space to come forward to stop behaviour like this,” she tells Newsroom.
Newsroom has been told of wider problems at Winton’s Ayrburn resort near Queenstown, just 5km up the road from Meehan’s Queenstown home, where he spent much of his time. It’s believed at least five Ayrburn staff took personal grievances or lodged written complaints; four of those named Meehan in their complaints.
Winton agreed settlements with at least two staff, in some cases as recently as this year, and some with non-disclosure agreements.
Newsroom has put detailed allegations to Meehan and to Winton. “I’m on medical leave and really need to focus on my health,” Meehan replies. “Please contact the company for comment on the issues you’ve raised.”
Hollows says that for privacy reasons, Winton is unable to comment.
Meehan owns at least 55 percent of Winton, and despite standing down from the chief executive’s role for health reasons, he’s still listed with the NZX as the company’s chair. Christchurch developer Philip Carter is the next biggest shareholder with 7 percent, and another National and Act donor Peter Huljich co-owns nearly 3 percent.
The company’s directors are legally responsible for employees’ safety. Alongside Meehan on Winton Land Ltd’s board are his wife Michaela Meehan, who’s a former Olympic sailor for Denmark. The couple are reported to be friends with Danish royalty.
Former Cabinet minister Steven Joyce was named an independent director in 2023, and chairs the audit and financial risk committee. He and the Meehans are joined by Julian Cook, Guy Fergusson, James Kemp, Joshua Phillips and Glen Tupuhi.
This week, the NZ Herald described Meehan as “one of the most energetic and visionary property developers to head a listed company in the past few years”.
Meehan gave an interview to Newsroom last year, after minister Chris Bishop referred his Ayrburn screen hub project into the fast-track process. The developer said he’d been in “in-depth talks” with Hollywood studios to bring multi-part franchises to Queenstown.
But he refused to say whether his donations to the National Party had paid off. “I donate to loads of things, including various political parties and lots of charities. And I don’t regret donating to any of those charities or any of those political parties.”
Experiences described in this story may be upsetting to some people; if so, we encourage you to seek support. And if you have information to disclose about Winton Land and its Ayrburn resort, please email Jonathan Milne.
