She is holding Wolfbrook Property to account, claiming it owes $938,000 for her Upper Hutt home after a Wolfbrook-associated company pulled out of its 2021 purchase leaving her high and dry. Pamela Bright had purchased a replacement Wellington property assuming Wolfbrook-linked Fix My Property Ltd would pay up on its unconditional contract.
With Wellington property prices in freefall, she is looking to recover from Wolfbrook the promised 2021 price for her Martin Street property.
In anticipation of Fix My Property settling its Martin Street purchase in November 2022, Ms Bright arranged $918,000 bridging finance to buy another home.
Fix My Property Ltd is now in liquidation, insolvent. Ms Bright claims she was deceived as to who was the true purchaser. She wants Wolfbrook property group to front up with the $938,000 purchase price.
Ms Bright claims she was led to believe during sale negotiations that substantial property group Wolfbrook was buying. The contract she signed named Fix My Property Ltd as purchaser; a company owned by Christchurch-based Wolfbrook directors Steve Brooks and James Cooney.
She alleges this was a subterfuge. Sales staff acting for Fix My Property deny any misleading comments were made.
In a preliminary High Court skirmish, Ms Bright had Wolfbrook Property Group Ltd added as defendant. She claims Fix My Property was acting as agent, on behalf of Wolfbrook.
Wolfbrook Property disputed its addition to the litigation; it denies any liability.
Joining Wolfbrook Property as a defendant ensures all disputed liability can be resolved at one hearing, Associate Judge Skelton ruled. This is preferable to having additional court proceedings filed by Ms Bright against Wolfbrook, with then two separate court hearings, potentially in conflict, running in parallel, he said.
Ms Bright is also suing Steve Brooks and James Cooney personally, alleging breach of Companies Act directors’ duties by having Fix My Property Ltd commit to a $938,000 contract without company resources on hand to honour that commitment.
Judge Skelton urged Wolfbrook to make some progress on dealing with this dispute.
The court record shows a history of prior procedural jousting by Wolfbrook as it disputed the venue for any court hearing and demanded that Ms Bright put up security for costs should she lose.
Bright v. Wolfbrook Residential Ltd – High Court (15.07.25)
25.158