Statements Attributed to Stephen Robert Tindall

April 22, 2002

Media advisory

For the information of editors & news editors

Please check all statements presented in the name of Stephen Robert Tindall

This statement is to advise all editors and news editors to check the source of material presented to them in the name of Stephen Robert Tindall.

A former supplier to The Warehouse, Ms Judith Bell of Tauranga has recently changed her legal name to Stephen Robert Tindall and may seek to make public statements under this name.

As a successful, publicly listed company, The Warehouse is advising news media in order to minimise the risk that confusion over any action Ms Bell might take could impact the company commercially. We believe that she has supplied information to news organisations from an email address stephen@stephentindall.co.nz.

Ms Bell’s grievance relates to a decision taken by The Warehouse more than eight years ago to cease to do business with the Bells. Since then, the Bells have personalised their attack on The Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall as a means of trying to get The Warehouse to pay them money. The Warehouse has refused.

Ms Bell was bankrupted recently at the Rotorua High Court. The Warehouse was not a creditor in the proceedings. She had attempted to be bankrupted in the name of Stephen Robert Tindall, but the court adjudged her bankrupt in the name Judith Bell.

Fact sheet

History of The Warehouse’s dealings with the Bells

A summary of The Warehouse’s dealings with the Bells is as follows:

- In the early 1990s, The Warehouse and founder Stephen Tindall assisted Bell Gas Cylinders into the production of gas cylinders for barbecues by paying in advance for orders. This gave the Bells the money they needed to begin production.

- For a time, The Warehouse sold gas bottles made by the Bells. The Warehouse suspended sales when an inspector from Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) - conducting checks at Bell Gas Cylinders - froze the sale of a substantial number of bottles stocked by The Warehouse for a significant period of time - while the batch of bottles was cleared.

- Following this incident - and due to a number of commercial factors - The Warehouse did not have confidence that Bell Gas Cylinders could meet its future requirements and soon after ceased to do business with the Bells.

- When The Warehouse ceased doing business with the Bells, it dealt generously with the ending of the business relationship. The Warehouse did not pursue money it felt it was owed.

- The Bells took legal action against The Warehouse, claiming it owed them money. The matter has gone to court, but the hearing has never been completed.

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