K v V

[2012] NZHC 1129

NOTE: PURSUANT TO S 35A OF THE PROPERTY (RELATIONSHIPS) ACT 1976, ANY REPORT OF THIS PROCEEDING MUST COMPLY WITH SS 11B TO 11D OF THE FAMILY COURTS ACT 1980.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON REGISTRY

CIV-2011-485-002682 [2012] NZHC 1129

UNDER  the Property (Relationships) Act 1976

IN THE MATTER OF     an appeal against the decision of the Family

Court at Wellington

BETWEEN  K Appellant

ANDV Respondent

Hearing:         8 May 2012

Counsel:         R C Laurenson and A Kothroulas for Appellant

T G Stapleton for Respondent

Judgment:      24 May 2012

In accordance with r 11.5 I direct the Registrar to endorse this judgment with the delivery time of 3.00pm on the 24th day of May 2012.

RESERVED JUDGMENT OF COLLINS J

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction......................................................................................................................... [1] Background ......................................................................................................................... [4]

Appellant ........................................................................................................................... [7]

Respondent ........................................................................................................................ [9] Property and assets acquired during the relationship ................................................... [10] Tamana Farm.................................................................................................................. [11] Terrace apartment .......................................................................................................... [12] Trusts .............................................................................................................................. [14]

K V V HC WN CIV-2011-485-002682 [24 May 2012]

The PR business ................................................................................................................ [16] Proceedings ........................................................................................................................ [19] Summary of the Family Court judgment ....................................................................... [21] Date when the parties’ de facto relationship ended........................................................ [22] Was there a relationship property agreement?............................................................... [24]

Were there extraordinary circumstances that would make equal sharing repugnant to justice? ............................................................................................................................ [26]

Division of property and assets ........................................................................................ [27] Tamana ........................................................................................................................... [28] Terrace apartment ............................................................................................................30] BK Investment Trust........................................................................................................ [32] Balance of BK Family Trust............................................................................................ [33] KS Communications Ltd ................................................................................................. [34] Miscellaneous assets ....................................................................................................... [35]

Determining an appeal under the Act ............................................................................. [37] First ground of appeal: was there a relationship property agreement made pursuant to s 21P of the Act in relation to Tamana? .......................................................................... [41] Relevant provisions of the Act......................................................................................... [42] Evidence relevant to the first ground of appeal .............................................................. [43] Competing submissions................................................................................................... [44] Analysis ........................................................................................................................... [49] Second ground of appeal: what is the true value of Tamana? ..................................... [61] Third ground of appeal: Did the Family Court err when it ordered that the transfer of the apartment to the BK Family Trust be set aside under s 44 of the Act? ................. [70] Relevant legislation......................................................................................................... [72] Relevant evidence............................................................................................................ [73] Passage of legislation ..................................................................................................... [76] Appellant’s evidence ....................................................................................................... [81] Cross-examination .......................................................................................................... [83] Answers to questions from the Family Court Judge ....................................................... [86] Accountant’s cross-examination ..................................................................................... [88] Respondent’s cross-examination..................................................................................... [90] Parties’ competing positions........................................................................................... [92] Respondent ...................................................................................................................... [94] Legal principles applicable to reviewing a lower court’s findings of fact...................... [95] Why did the appellant transfer the apartment to the BK Family Trust? ......................... [99] Did the appellant intend to defeat the respondent’s claims? ........................................ [106] Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... [115]

Introduction

[1]      This is an appeal from a decision of the Family Court at Wellington and concerns the parties’ respective shares in two properties following the conclusion of their de facto relationship.

[2]      The issues on appeal have been helpfully refined by counsel for the appellant. There are now three issues which I am required to consider, namely:

(1)Whether there was  in  this  case a relationship  property agreement made pursuant to s 21P of the…