Wilson Parking wants $25m from Christchurch rival accused of stealing clients
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Global parking giant Wilson Parking has raised the stakes in its case against former employee and Christchurch competitor Mainland Parking and its founder, Peter Turner.
Wilson, whose allegations will be heard in a four-week trial in June, wants $25 million in remedies and/or damages, a recent judgment reveals.
Turner, Wilson’s former South Island manager, has been accused of several contract breaches, alleged sabotage and soliciting clients for a future parking company while still employed.
He denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
Last week, Employment Court Judge Helen Doyle heard Wilson was seeking a total of $25 million, made up of potential Mainland profits together with damages.
Wilson had previously stated that Mainland’s portfolio was worth almost $20 million, netting over $4m a year in revenue.
Meanwhile, Wilson successfully argued for Turner/Mainland to swear he has handed over all documents, as required by the courts ahead of trial, and to give a more detailed written response to several allegations.
Wilson was said to believe the statement of defence was lacking or even evasive in parts, the judgment said.
Citing case law, Judge Doyle agreed there were several claims Turner/Mainland needed to elaborate on.
She agreed to a verification order, which would see Turner/Mainland confirming in an affidavit there was no more information yet to be disclosed.
Wilson’s independent forensic accounting team was granted “read only” access to Mainland Parking’s Xero system, which Mainland agreed to. If this was not enough, Doyle said Wilson could return to court with a request for deeper access.
Doyle said although Turner/Mainland missed some deadlines and there were remaining issues to be addressed, they were being asked to disclose a “significant” number of documents in a shortened timeframe.
Both Wilson Parking and Turner declined to comment.
Turner has been accused of setting up a rival company using insider knowledge while still employed with Wilson Parking, and working on it during a restraint of trade period.
In December 2024, not long after his restraint of trade period ended, Mainland Parking signs were spotted on some of Wilson’s most valuable client sites, including the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. Most of Mainland’s clients were former clients of Wilson.
Since the legal battle was made public, Mainland* was chosen to run a temporary parking lot on Gloucester St, which will raise money for the arts.
The council once considered selling that same site to Wilson Parking for a car parking facility, but public backlash - including opposition to Wilson itself - killed the deal.
It was later earmarked for private arts-related development, but the council could not find a creative group who could afford to take it on.
* Correction: The temporary Gloucester St carpark is on Christchurch City Council-owned land but the authority had no input in choosing the parking provider. The decision was made by a new entity set up by the Court Theatre and Isaac Theatre Royal. (Updated 9.35am, March 17, 2026)