[Blake] v [Blake]

[2021] NZHC 756

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND ROTORUA REGISTRY

I TE KŌTI MATUA O AOTEAROA

TE ROTORUA-NUI-A-KAHUMATAMOMOE ROHE

CIV-2020-463-18

[2021] NZHC 756

BETWEEN

BARTLEY BLAKE

Appellant

AND

MAYSIE BLAKE

First Respondent

HMR LIMITED

Second Respondent

Hearing:

9-11 November 2020

Counsel:

S Jefferson QC, K Lellman and L Gamble for Appellant

D Chambers QC, I Hikaka and E Armstrong for Respondent

Interim Judgment:

12 April 2021

ANONYMISED JUDGMENT OF WHATA J

This judgment was delivered by me on 12 April 2021 at 5.00 pm, pursuant to Rule 11.5 of the High Court Rules.

Registrar/Deputy Registrar Date: ………………………….

Solicitors:           Hollister-Jones Lellman, Tauranga

LeeSalmonLong, Auckland

BLAKE v BLAKE [2021] NZHC 756 [12 April 2021]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction............................................................................................................... [1]

Background............................................................................................................... [4]
Judgment of the Family Court................................................................................. [12]
The effect of the Matrimonial Property Agreements........................................... [13]
The family home and other properties................................................................. [16]

HML valuation..................................................................................................... [18]

Percentage of shareholding and the effect of the shareholders agreement          [22]
FME..................................................................................................................... [23]
Multiple................................................................................................................ [25]
Section 9A........................................................................................................... [30]
Section 9A(1) – direct contribution to HML....................................................... [31]
Section 9A(2) – indirect contribution to HML.................................................... [32]
Section 44 – disposition of property.................................................................... [36]
The SCL share sales............................................................................................. [37]
Other assets.......................................................................................................... [40]
Section 15 – economic disparity.......................................................................... [41]
Post-separation contributions.............................................................................. [46]
Section 18C......................................................................................................... [48]
Summary of key findings and orders................................................................... [49]

Restaurant venue.................................................................................................. [50]

Issues on appeal....................................................................................................... [51]
The guiding principles............................................................................................. [52]
The thresholds on appeal......................................................................................... [55]
The numbers............................................................................................................ [58]
The HML valuation................................................................................................. [59]
Common ground.................................................................................................. [61]
Argument............................................................................................................. [62]
The expert positions............................................................................................. [65]
Shareholding........................................................................................................ [79]
FME insurance..................................................................................................... [87]
FME multiplier..................................................................................................... [94]

Value of SCL at date of marriage....................................................................... [102]

Section 9A............................................................................................................. [106]
Section 9A(1)..................................................................................................... [108]
The argument..................................................................................................... [108]

The law.............................................................................................................. [110]
Assessment......................................................................................................... [114]

Section 9A(2) and relative contributions........................................................... [123]
Argument........................................................................................................... [124]
The law.............................................................................................................. [125]
Assessment........................................................................................................ [128]
Sections 44 and 18C.............................................................................................. [136]
The SCL shares.................................................................................................. [139]
The painting....................................................................................................... [148]
Post-separation contributions – s 18B................................................................... [150]
Billy-Jo............................................................................................................... [152]

Restaurant venue................................................................................................ [154]

The family home.................................................................................................... [155]
Restaurant venue.................................................................................................... [159]
Assessment........................................................................................................ [162]
Interest claim.......................................................................................................... [166]
Assessment........................................................................................................ [167]
Section 15 disparity............................................................................................... [168]
Argument........................................................................................................... [170]
Assessment........................................................................................................ [171]
Outcome................................................................................................................ [177]
Direction................................................................................................................ [178]

Costs...................................................................................................................... [180]

Suppression............................................................................................................ [181]
Appendix A............................................................................................................ [183]
Issues on Mr Blake’s appeal.............................................................................. [183]
Issues on Mrs Blake’s appeal............................................................................. [184]

Appendix B ....................................................................................................................

Introduction

[1] This is a large, complex, multi-headed relationship property appeal relating to property valued at between $110 m and $130 m. The issues are identified at [51]. Very few large stones have been left unturned. But, at its core, the appeal is about the just division of relationship property accumulated over thirty years of an essentially traditional marriage. It engages complex valuation evidence and the equally complex application of the principles from leading case law, including Rose v Rose, Clayton v Clayton and Scott v Williams.1 In the result, however, most of the key findings and related orders of the Family Court are, subject to relatively minor refinements and adjustments, supported by this Court. A summary of these outcomes can be found at [177].

[2]    The primary difference between the findings of this Court and the Family Court relates to the percentage…