Trucking company ordered into liquidation over $38,000 unpaid RUC debt

Sunday, 14 June 2026

A trucking company has been forced into liquidation by the courts, after racking up nearly $40,000 in unpaid road user charge debt.

BMC Solutions, which was originally based in Palmerston North but transported freight nationwide, was placed into liquidation on June 4 by order of the High Court, following an application by the NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Christchurch insolvency firm Rodgers Reidy was appointed liquidator.

NZTA said it had served a statutory demand on the company in relation to unpaid Road User Charges (RUCs) of just over $38,000. But the company’s current, Canterbury-based director claims the liquidation is the culmination of a “witchhunt”, against the company’s founder and namesake.

The debt came from two invoices, representing RUC distance shortfalls of 86,000km, the transport agency said. The company had the right to apply to set this aside if it disputed what was owed, but NZTA said it did not.

Regulatory group general manager Mike Hargreaves said NZTA applied to the High Court to place the company into liquidation, “after sustained efforts by our debt and compliance teams to recover unpaid [RUC] debt and address ongoing non-compliance”.

“This was not a step taken lightly.

“Over an extended period, NZTA worked to resolve the matter directly with the company, including repeated engagement to secure payment and bring the company back into compliance.”

Liquidation was one of the stronger enforcement tools available to the agency, and Hargreaves said it was used only in cases of serious and ongoing non-compliance.

“This is not an isolated instance. NZTA has taken this step in multiple cases where operators have persistently failed to meet their obligations.”

He said RUCs played an important role in funding the upkeep of the road network.

“Taking enforcement action helps ensure everyone contributes fairly, supports a level playing field across the transport industry, and prevents those who ignore their obligations from gaining an unfair commercial advantage.”

Companies Office records show Basil Cooper, BMC Solutions’ original owner, ceased being a director of the company in March 2025.

But Cooper, a trucker of 55 years, told The Press the company’s recent issues began after his Goods Service Licence (GSL), a type of mandatory Transport Service Licence (TSL) needed for transporting heavy goods, was unexpectedly suspended – which he only found out after being pulled over in Waipara transporting an “urgent load” bound for Auckland.

“They reckon they sent out information – well we never received it.”

According to Cooper, his vehicle was seized, and he alleged inspectors exaggerated the number of mechanical problems discovered during their assessment.

While he had “never been an angel behind the wheel”, he said he only ever admitted to two logbook offences in regards to BMC Solutions. But he claimed he felt pressured to give up his directorship after NZTA told him he was an “unfit person” to run the company.

Cooper said he believed the company’s TSL would be reinstated after a friend took over the business, but they lost their contract before this could happen.

“We were going to pay [the RUCs] off once we were back on the road… We've lost thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars over this.”

Cooper said he didn't believe there would be any money or assets left now for liquidators to cover the debt.

“It's actually really hurt us,” he said. “It's stuffed my credit rating up… and we lost the trucks.”

BMC Solutions’ sole director at the time of liquidation was David Hanford-Boyes. He said he’d known Cooper for many years, originally just helping with health and safety.

Hanford-Boyes, who lived in Timaru at the time, said he only took over directorship “to keep the company going”.

“There’s a lot more companies in New Zealand that owe a hell of a lot more.”

“It’s [been] a witchhunt against Basil,” he said. “It was his company, and they took it all off him.”

NZTA rejected claims it had any vendetta against Cooper, although Hargreaves said they couldn’t speak about actions taken against individuals due to privacy issues.

He said BMC Solutions’ GSL had been revoked, after it was served with a notice.

“At this time, the company had almost $20,000 in unpaid RUC. The company was given the opportunity to make submissions prior to the revocation taking place, but failed to do so.”

NZTA let them make submissions “out of time” and later reinstated their licence, “with clear expectations around future performance of the company”.

“The TSL was subsequently suspended when similar issues were repeated. It incurred an additional $18,000 in unpaid RUC prior to liquidation.”