“I don’t want to give up on my team, my friends and my community. I want to be that person who says yes, we are going through the fire, but be the phoenix and come back and learn from these mistakes.
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt is to keep going, despite the feelings, despite the liquidation banner over your head, despite the negativity it can cause.”
Gemmell said mounting pressure from Covid, flooding and debt “broke” his dream, but the message he wanted to send other business owners and his community was one of positivity and resilience.
The Insolvency and Trustee Service, the Official Assignee’s Office under the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), was appointed as liquidator. Liquidator James…