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22 April 2026

Chance Voight

Background

In December 2025, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) confirmed it was investigating Chance Voight Investment Corporation Limited and related entities and sought the appointment of interim liquidators over six associated companies. The High Court approved the application and appointed Malcolm Hollis, John Fisk, and Lara Bennett of PwC New Zealand as interim liquidators, effective 10 December 2025.

The FMA has publicly cautioned investors to fully inform themselves before providing any further funds to Bernard Whimp or any Chance Voight–related person or entity. The investigation remains ongoing, with the FMA and the interim liquidators continuing to receive information from investors, creditors, and other parties.

For enquiries, investors and creditors are directed to the interim liquidators via [email protected] or by calling 09 872 6240. Information relevant to the investigation may be provided directly to the FMA at [email protected]. 

Latest Update 22 April 2026

In accordance with the Court Orders placing the Chance Voight Companies into interim liquidation a report was prepared for the Court by the interim liquidators. It was filed with the Court on 26 January 2026 and has been subject to a Court suppression order, with the FMA and the interim liquidators supporting publication. That suppression has now lifted, meaning the report, with some details redacted in accordance with Court Orders, is now publicly available. 

Read the interim liquidation report [681KB]

The Judgment with the Court’s reasons for permitting the report to be made public has also been published. 

Read the Judgment [328KB]

Timeline

16 April 2026

The FMA wrote to confirmed Chance Voight investors to update them on the recent regulatory interventions taken by the FMA into Chance Voight, its subsidiaries, and persons and entities associated with Chance Voight.

Download the FMA Investor Update Letter [88KB]

10 April 2026

The FMA applied to liquidate a further 25 companies linked to the Chance Voight Group, citing concerns about how they were being run and whether they can meet their financial obligations.

February 2026

The FMA asked the Court to schedule a hearing to determine its application to place the companies in liquidation. The FMA also asked the High Court to release of PwC’s interim liquidation report, which is currently subject to a suppression order.

The Court has scheduled a hearing on 3 March 2026 in the Christchurch High Court to hear the issue of whether or not the interim liquidators’ report to the court may be published. The Court has also now set down a three-day hearing from 29 June to 1 July 2026 to determine the FMA’s substantive application to liquidate the six Chance Voight companies in interim liquidation.

December 2025

The FMA recommended that investors in Rangiora-based investment company Chance Voight fully inform themselves before providing further funds to Bernard Whimp or any Chance Voight-related person or entity.

December 2025

The Court initially restricted publication of the reasons for its decision to appoint the interim liquidators, and then lifted restriction on publication, subject to continuing suppression of some parts of the decision.

December 2025

FMA confirmed it is investigating Christchurch-based Chance Voight Investment Corporation Limited (Chance Voight), its subsidiaries and persons and entities associated with the Chance Voight Group. The FMA sought appointment of interim liquidators over six Chance Voight entities, with the Court appointing Malcolm Hollis, John Fisk and Lara Bennett of PwC New Zealand as interim liquidators over the 6 entities with effect from 10 December 2025.

The High Court also granted an application by the FMA for interim asset preservation orders against Mr Whimp and a subsidiary of CVICL named Hanmer Equities Limited. The asset preservation orders were sought to protect assets pending the outcome of the FMA's ongoing investigation into Chance Voight. A copy of the asset preservation orders can be viewed here [3.6MB] (with certain matters that are suppressed blacked out). At this stage, a Court order prohibiting publication of the Court’s reasons for making the asset preservation orders remains in place.

Reporting information to the FMA

Investor or creditor queries should be referred to the interim liquidators by email to [email protected] or by phone to 09 872 6240.

The FMA’s investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can contact the FMA by email: [email protected] or by phone to 0800 434 566.