(TDB) - A New Zealand winery has been fined more than NZ$15,000 after it was convicted of illegally manufacturing and selling liquidated stock, and dodging taxes.

Sentry Hill Winery, of New Plymouth on New Zealand’s North Island, was placed into liquidation at the request of New Zealand Customs in April 2016 after it failed to pay a debt owed from unpaid excise duty totalling more than $280,000.

The sole director and shareholder Stephen Parkes’ powers as a director ceased upon liquidation, with the business and its assets taken under the liquidators’ control, including equipment and a stock of bottled wine.

Mr Parkes’ wife Wendy Parkes then incorporated another company, Sur Le Mur Ltd, and applied for a Customs-controlled area licence to manufacture alcoholic products at the Sentry Hill Winery.

Customs declined her application on the basis that the area was already licensed to Sentry Hill Winery which was in liquidation.

However an investigation by the customs team later revealed that Sur Le Mur Ltd had sold bulk red wine to retail outlets in New Plymouth, despite not having a licence to manufacture or sell the goods.