The February 2017 fires scorched more than 2000 hectares and destroyed nine homes. Photo: Matthew Rankin
A forestry firm previously removed from the company registry has been cleared to appeal its exclusion from an insurance settlement for the Christchurch Port Hills wildfires.
IAG filed for damages in the High Court against lines company Orion and the Christchurch Adventure Park, on behalf of a dozen property owners.
One of the owners - Scott Forestry - was dismissed as a claimant, because it wasn't a registered company, when proceedings were filed.
The fires that broke out in February 2017 scorched more than 2000 hectares, destroying nine homes and significantly damaging a further two properties.
Court documents showed the company ceased trading in November 2020 and was removed from the companies register in November 2022, after failing to file annual returns.
During a teleconference in the High Court proceedings in December 2023, Orion made an oral application to "strike out" Scott Forestry as a party to the
proceedings.
A week later, the judge granted the application, arguing that the company "technically has never been a party to the proceeding".
"Because it was not on the register when this proceeding was filed, but there having [been] a failure to take reasonable steps to restore the company to the Register, it is now… formally struck out."
The company was re-instated in April 2024.
In its submission, Scott Forestry argued it "was always party to the proceedings for the purposes of bringing a claim".
After an April hearing, Justice Palmer has ruled the company can appeal its exclusion from the suit.
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