In August 2019 NZME published two articles concerning Smart Environmental Limited ("Smart") and its founder and former Managing Director, Grahame Christian ("Mr Christian").
The articles made allegations that Smart, while led by Mr Christian, had engaged in inappropriate and dishonest practices during part of its performance of a contract with Thames Coromandel District Council ("the Council"). The articles were published on the www.nzherald.co.nz website and in the New Zealand Herald newspaper.
Immediately following the publishing of the articles, Mr Christian commenced defamation proceedings in the High Court at Auckland against (inter alia) NZME and the contract reporter, Michael Valintine ("Mr Valintine") and Murray Bain ("Murray Bain"), an ex-employee and director of a local competitor of Smart and source for the articles.
NZME, following a demand from Smart, temporarily disabled access to the articles to enable Smart and Mr Christian's complaints to be investigated.
The Council engaged the accountancy and audit firm PWC, consultancy firm Morrison Low, and a Private Investigator. NZME has now received documentation which indicates that the Morrison Low and PWC investigative reports concluded (in summary):