China Construction applies to liquidate Seascape developer Shundi associate

Plans by Shundi Tāmaki Village for the St Johns land it bought from the University of Auckland. Image / Supplied

Listen to this article — China Construction applies to liquidate Seascape developer Shundi associate

One of the world’s biggest builders, China Construction, has applied to liquidate a New Zealand development business linked to the former developer of partly-built Auckland apartment tower Seascape.

A Gazette notice yesterday said that on December 5, China Construction had applied to the High Court at Auckland to liquidate Shundi Tamaki Village.

Shundi Tamaki Village and Shundi Customs are both 76% owned by Shundi Group Investment and share the same director: Harrison (Huojun) Shao.

They both use the accountants Gilligan Sheppard.

China Construction has previously chased Shundi Customs over a $33 million debt for the long-stalled, partly-built 56-level Seascape apartments in downtown Auckland.

Chinese developer Shundi was not only building the downtown tower on Customs St but also bought land in St Johns from the University of Auckland, where it had its Tāmaki campus.

Pictured at at a Seascape function on September 3 last year are (from left) James Sheriff (Icon), Harrison Shao (Shundi), Dan Bosher (Icon) and Frank Xu (Shundi). Photo / Mala Photography

Shundi bought the 11ha site at 261 Morrin Rd, St Johns. That site had been called the Tāmaki Innovation Campus.

There, Shundi planned extensive development but has so far not gone ahead with that.

On the liquidation moves advertised yesterday, Harrison Shao, of Shundi, hit back.

“Shundi will defend China Construction NZ’s application to put Shundi Tāmaki Village into liquidation, if required. However, with the settlement fund being agreed to be paid in China, Shundi expects the matter to be resolved prior to the hearing,” Shao said.

“The parties each have residual obligations to fulfil to close out prior to the hearing, but these have largely been resolved, pending final payment.

Shundi Tāmaki Village planned this new development with apartments for about 5000 people at St Johns. Photo / NZ Herald

“The Seascape project is under Shundi Customs and is not affected by the application.”

The notice says the liquidation application will go to the court on Friday, February 27 at 10.45am Shundi Tamaki Village.

The Seascape tower has stood largely abandoned for 18 months.

In August 2024, China Construction suspended work on the tower and told 25 subcontractors to leave.

Since then, the $300m+ building site has stood largely silent, with little progress to continue cladding and fitting out the structure.

Seascape, the 56-level $300 million-plus apartment tower in downtown Auckland, as it was in September 2024. Photo / Jason Oxenham

That has infuriated people in the area, including neighbours who have complained of dust and traffic holdups.

By March last year, China Construction had won the right to enforce a $33m claim against Shundi Customs.

In late March last year, Justice Greg Blanchard in the High Court at Auckland backed China Construction New Zealand against developer Shundi Customs over that $33m statutory demand.

“I order Shundi to pay the sum in the statutory demand within five working days of the date of this minute. I confirm that, absent payment within that period, CCNZ may make an application to put Shundi into liquidation,” he wrote.

This new platform, shown on the left, has been erected at the Seascape tower in downtown Auckland.

Back on Customs St and at the Shundi tower, neighbours and construction experts alerted the Herald to a change at Seascape.

A new structure was erected near the top of the tower just below where it juts into its apex.

Jillie Clarke of Shundi said the Seascape project team explained the new structure:

Seascape tower

Timeline:

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.