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SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

“The Truth gig is over …[it] was too far gone, a legacy of the mayhem caused by David and Steve Crow” says Editor

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The Truth Newspaper to stop publishing. On a day that saw Mediaworks call in receivers, it emerged that tabloid newspaper The Truth will cease publishing after more than 125 years.

Staff at the national weekly [described recently by Winston Peters as a “scurrilous” mag ” chocker with sex adds” promoting “people trafficking”] have been told it will not publish a print edition on Thursday, and may never publish one again.

Truth, which first published 1887, was thought to have lost a major advertiser last week, prompting its owners to pull the plug.

Truth Weekender general manager Russell Beaumont told Fairfax Media “the owners and shareholders have said we should pause for a cup of tea”.

“We’re having a break, we’re not in receivership, we’re just pausing.”

All creditors and contributors would be paid, he said.

Editor Cameron Slater [photo below] had done an outstanding job since taking over last year, but attracting advertisers had proved difficult, Beaumont said.

Photo credit: http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/cameron-slater-1-labour-party-0.html

Cameron Slater

Cameron Slater Stuff News 17/06/13

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8806303/The-Truth-newspaper-to-stop-publishing

Slater, who also operates the controversial Right-wing blog, Whale Oil, would not confirm the closure when contacted,

referring all media  media inquiries to Dermott Malley who co-owns the paper.

Dermott Malley

Photo of Dermott Malley. Source: http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/dermott-malley/a/a32/b21

Malley said only “You want the truth from Truth? You’ll get the truth”, before ending the call.

Slater eventually wrote on his blog [www.whaleoil.co.nz] that the “gig is over” – blaming the tabloid’s demise on those that went before him.

“Some time in the future I will tell my story of  the wild ride the last six months have been…in the meantime I want to thank the editorial and production staff I worked with, you were great.

“Bottom line is that Truth was too far gone, a legacy of the mayhem caused by David and Steve Crow. Again I will leave that story for later.”

                                                                                      

 Stephen (Steve) Peter Crow  #                                             David Bruce Crow top right. Steve Crow below ## 

# Photo: 3 News.co.nz April 27, 2011.

“Porn King looses legal battle”                                                                      ##     Photo: Stuff News

The newspaper’s other owner, Matthew Horton, was not available for comment as he was on a flight from Australia.

Slater, who made a name for himself baiting Left-wing pundits on his controversial blog, was brought on as editor in October last year.

At the time he promised to reshape the “tired old business model” that had led the newspaper industry into deep decline, and planned to ditch the paper’s seedier advertising format in favour of main street advertisers

Source:

The Truth Newspaper to stop publishing

Story by Jason Krupp and Kevin Norquay. 17 June 2013. Fairfax NZ News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8806303/The-Truth-newspaper-to-stop-publishing

Cameron Slater’s Blog “New Zealand’s #1 Blog”

http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/06/yup-its-true-the-truth-gig-is-over/#more-99311

For Background see:

https://www.spcs.org.nz/2010/liquidation-of-truth-publications-ltd-conflict-of-interests-phoenix-companies/

https://www.spcs.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Diagrams/Truth-Publications-Ltd-Diagram.pdf (dated 8/07/2010)

https://www.spcs.org.nz/2010/truth-publications-ltd-in-liq-outstanding-filing-obligations-re-insolvency/

https://www.spcs.org.nz/2010/what-is-left-for-creditors-of-truth-publications-ltd-in-liq/

https://www.spcs.org.nz/2010/truth-publication-in-liq-owes-622000-outstanding-filing-obligations/

Latest Assessment

Check out:

National Business Review

Truth rejuvenation became too hard – Horton.  By Georgina Bond

Republished as:

NBR gets the good oil on Truth

http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/06/nbr-gets-the-good-oil-on-truth/

Quote:

Mr Horton, who owns a 50% stake in Truth, says the newspaper had continued to lose ground with advertisers and readers over the last few years.

“It had taken a very seedy turn over the last five years and I think that probably cost the paper a lot of sales…..

Management changes earlier this year, when original owners handed over the reins to the Crow brothers David and Steve, had been disruptive.

__________

Background: From Liquidator’s First Report. Filed with on Companies Office website on 09/07/13

In 2011 Multimedia Solutions Limited purchased adultspace.co.nz and arranged for Truth Weekender Limited to manage this site.

At the end of May 2012 Pravda Limited, owned by David Bruce Crow, purchased 50% of the shareholding in Truth Weekender Limited and he became the sole director.

In March 2013 David Crow resigned as a director and his shares were transferred to Onyx Capital Limited. Dermott Malley was then appointed director.

A major advertiser withdrew their support in June 2013 and Dermott Malley made the decision to cease to trade

Eden Digital Ltd, former holder of Erotica Lifestyles Expo license: – in liquidation

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Eden Digital Ltd, a company that sold and distributed hardcore pornography in New Zealand for over three years and until recently was directed by US investor John Malcolm Carr CPA, was placed into liquidation yesterday, 22 November 2011, under s. 241(2)(a) of the Companies Act 1993.

See: US-based critic of economy [John M Carr CPA: (see photo http://www.carr.co.nz/images/jmc.jpg ) has lots more to say

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=154653

The majority of the estimated total deficit of Eden Digital Ltd (Co. No. 2122974), $434,000, is owed to the NZ Inland Revenue Department: $147,000 in GST/PAYE (IRD is a preferential creditor) and  $148,000 owed to IRD (unsecured creditor). A total of $295,000 is therefore owed to IRD.

In addition, trade creditors (unsecured) are owed $119,000 and $20,000 is owed in wages/entitlements to the companyy’s former employees. (see Liquidator’s first report published today on the Companies Office website (www.companies.govt.nz).

The report records the reasons provided by the director Mr John M Carr CPA for Eden Digital being put into into liquidation and they include:

(1) the company was in default with its financiers and demand was made on the company due to that default, (2) the company has been supported financially by related entities [all directed by John M Carr CPA] and recently their financial support was withdrawn (3) the business was recently sold and such proceeds were applied to the security holders including CVC Group Ltd directed by John M Carr CPA (see below) (4) with no remaining assets the company was unable to trade and as a result its only shareholder [CVC Group Ltd, directed by John M Carr CPA] had no option but to place the company into receivership, (5) Eden Digital Ltd that held the licence for Erotica Lifestyles Expo, cancelled the license which meant that this aspect of its business could not continue.

The Waikato Times reported on 18 November 2011 that the Hamilton City Council “had been approached by Eden Digital Media [sic] to book Claudelands [event venue] for the [Erotica Lifestyles] expo in March [2012]“.

Fortunately for the Council, its councillors voted yesterday against allowing this hardcore porn fest using council facilities, given the fact that Eden Digital Ltd was probably insolvent throughout much of the period of time that its officers entered into negotiations with the Hamilton City Council. The Liquidator will be examining such matters to determine whether or not the company director John M Carr may have committed offences under the Companies Act 1993 (eg. trading whie insolvent)..

The majority of councillors (9 to 1) took the view that it was “inappropriate” to use the Claudelands venue for the staging of porn related activities as proposed by David Bruce Crow. They voted against the Arena being used for this proposed event.

David Bruce Crow, has been reported as acting as “spokesperson” for Esprit Events Ltd (Co. No. 3648912), another company directed by John M Carr and only recently incorporated on 10 November 2011. David Crow made an approach to the Hamilton City Council seeking the use of the Claudelands event venue for the sexpo, but without success. Concerned over the moral welfare of the community, councillors voted against the proposed use of the events venue to stage and promote porn 9 to 1.

Secured creditors of Eden Digital Ltd include its shareholder, CVC Group Ltd, directed by John M Carr, Vision rentals Ltd, Solutions Group Receivables, Konica Minolta Business Solutions and Harper Collins Publishers.

Unsecured creditors include Inland Revenue; Ezisoft Computer Systems Ltd directed by David Bruce Crow and owned by his wife Carolyn Rose Crow; NZX Media Ltd, co-directed by David Bruce Crow; PJ Digital Ltd, owned and directed by John Malcolm Carr; Florida US -based Better Business Services, Inc., owned and directed by John Malcolm Carr; and the ASB Showgrounds, Epsom, Auckland – the former longtime venue for Erotica Lifestyles Expo.

All unsecured creditors are unlikely to receive anything according to the Liquidator, Grant Bruce Reynolds of Reynolds & Associates Ltd, Insolvency Practitioners of Penrose,  Auckland.

Update: Liquidatation Notice – NZ Herald Thursday 24 November 2011. The failed company was put into liquidation pursuant to section 241(2)(a) of the Companies Act 1993.

Reference

The Bob Dey Property Report (the week to 27 November 2011)

Voluntary liquidation: Steve Crow-related Eden Digital sells business, closes

http://www.propbd.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=17011&SID=1061986009

Company: Eden Digital Ltd
Directors: Raymond Simpson, Mt Eden
Liquidation: 22 November
Solvent: No
Liquidators: Grant Reynolds (Reynolds & Associates Ltd)
Other details: The company held the licence for the Erotica Lifestyle Expo, but the licence was cancelled because of defaults. The business was recently sold. Mr Simpson is a director of Bodyrock Promotions (NZ) Ltd (removed from register 2004) & Digital Matrix Ltd (removed from register 2004). Former directors are Steve Crow, Ellerslie, & John Carr, now of Cromwell. Mr Crow – best known for running the Boobs on Bikes parade down Queen St – put Malibu Media Limited (ex-Erotica Expo Ltd) & Z4K74D Ltd (ex-Vixen Direct Ltd) into liquidation in 2009. He told the liquidators wholesale adult products company Vixen Direct was hit by piracy & parallel importing over the past 2 years, while attendances for the last 2 Erotica expos in Christchurch & Wellington were down by 50%, hitting sales. Mr Crow’s Eden Media Ltd was wound up on 21 May, Brass Magazine Ltd in August 2008, Les Obstacles de l’Amour Ltd 2006. Mr Crow is a director of CVC Group Ltd, HWGA Co Ltd, Sidefx Ltd & Vixen Publications Ltd.

Erotica Lifestyles Expo rejected as unsuitable for Hamilton city

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The Hamilton City Council has turned down an approach by the organisers of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo to hold the event at Claudelands next March. [The expo was to be run by Esprit Events Ltd, directed by John Malcolm Carr and owned by CVC Group Ltd – also owned by Mr John M Carr] .

The Strategy and Policy Committee yesterday rejected the proposal, viewing the event to be held at the Council-run Claudelands events venue as unsuitable for the city. [The expo promotes hardcore pornography].

The Committee agreed that a report into the need for a policy on appropriate events to be held at Council premises, including Claudelands, and in public places was required. This report will return to the Committee early next year.

Committee chair Maria Westphal said: “We had a full discussion around the proposal to host this event, but our view was that it was not appropriate to hold it at Council’s Claudelands venue.

‘The view of most councillors was that the adult lifestyles aspect of the Expo, and the likely promotion of it with the ‘Boobs on Bikes’ parade was not a good fit with the family friendly values of our city.”

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/11941317/thumbs-down-for-erotica-lifestyles-expo/

Note: Esprit Events Ltd (Co. No. 3648912) was incorporated on 10 November 2011.  Its spokesperson in media reports on the expo has been David Bruce Crow. Its registered office is at 2b/18 Triton Drive, Albany, NSC 0632.

Buildwise Ltd and the obligations of Liquidators under Companies Act 1993

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In accordance with Section 255 of the Companies Act 1993, Liquidators have a statutory duty to report to all creditors and shareholders on the conduct of the liquidation of a company during the entire period for which they have been appointed Liquidators.  Six monthly reports are required to be promptly issued following a company being placed into liquidation and these reports are to be lodged with the Companies Office by the Liquidator and filed on its website www.companies.govt.nz . (It is notworthy that Court-appointed company liquidations are on the rise according to latest figures available from the Ministry of Economic Development).

Buildwise Limited (Co. No. 714048), directed by David Bruce Crow of Inglewood, Taranaki, was placed into voluntary liquidation with Insolvency specialists, Meltzer Mason Heath of Auckland, on 3 July 2009, owing $380,000 to unsecured creditors and an “unknown” amount to preferential creditors and secured creditors, according to the Liquidator’s Report dated 3 July 2009 (53 creditors were “known” at the time and listed in this report).

However, since this initial insolvency report was issued, only two further Liquidator’s Reports has been filed and made available to creditors on the Companies Office website. The first covering the period 3 July 2009 to 3 January 2010 states: “It is unlikely that there will be funds available for a distribution to unsecured creditors”.  No information is provided as to funds that might be available to preferential creditors and/or secured creditors. [Read more…]

Steve Crow: Vixen Publications Ltd and Sidefx Ltd – face permanent removal

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Today the Registrar of Companies Mr Neville Harris has announced his intention to remove two companies formerly directed by banned director Steve Crow, from the Register under section 318(1)(b) of the Companies Act 1993 (see Company removal notices  www.companies.govt.nz). They were both involved in the hardcore pornography industry and are owned by CVC Group Ltd which is directed by a San Antonio Texas based certified public accountant (CPA), Mr John Malcolm Carr. [Read more…]