New Zealand’s largest carpark management company has launched legal action against its former South Island manager, alleging he violated confidentiality agreements and used proprietary information to establish a competing business.
Wilson Parking alleges that former South Island manager Peter Turner deliberately planned his exit, building relationships with prospective clients ahead of time and later moving to poach them in breach of his restraint of trade.
The case opened at the Employment Court in Christchurch, with proceedings expected to run for up to four weeks, as Wilson Parking begins presenting its arguments in what it says is a clear-cut breach of contractual obligations.
Speaking for Wilson Parking, Rachael Reed KC told the Employment Court that Peter Turner—founder of Mainland Parking—had breached his employment contract and acted against the company’s interests by leveraging its goodwill through his involvement with ATE Property.
Wilson Parking is now seeking access to Mainland Parking’s lease agreements and financial records, including profits, as well as details of Peter Turner’s shareholding, salary, and business-related expenses.
Reed said Turner and a former senior executive who is subject to name suppression were once among Wilson Parking’s most trusted South Island staff before becoming disgruntled and disaffected with the company.
Turner had come under financial pressure, and he and the former senior executive later began to undermine Wilson Parking and divert business toward Mainland Parking, according to the company’s allegations.
Reed argued that the actions were “deliberate and unlawful,” saying Turner and the former senior executive were bound by contractual obligations, including a restraint-of-trade clause, which she says they breached through their conduct.
Turner is also accused of meeting with landlords and allegedly inserting termination clauses into contracts, enabling them to exit lease and parking management agreements with Wilson Parking.
Turner is also alleged to have signed 11 new lease agreements shortly before his departure in September 2023, each with relatively short terms, which Wilson Parking claims were structured to make the sites available for his new business venture.
Reed also alleged that Turner retained his company laptop over the weekend after his final day with Wilson Parking and accessed confidential information before wiping the device, including the desktop, main drive, and internet history.
Turner is also said to have accessed his personal email in incognito mode, viewed documents, and copied information while taking steps to conceal his activity, all while subject to a 12-month restraint of trade.
Wilson Parking also alleges that the unnamed senior executive, who was still employed by the company at the time, entered into an agreement with Turner for a shareholding in his new business.
Reed said the pair allegedly communicated using burner phones and that by the end of March 2024 Turner had established ATE Property, which would later trade as Mainland Parking.
“He approached landlords to enter into agreements and assisted them in terminating agreements.”
“He asked the landlords to keep the information confidential; he wanted to maintain cover to approach other landlords. He has used the information to encourage other Wilson and non-Wilson landlords; it was unlawful activity.”
Reed alleged that Turner and Mainland Parking obtained 26 leases from Wilson Parking in breach of their obligations, along with a further 17 leases secured through what she described as the use of Wilson’s business connections.