One business that did work for the FIFA Women's World Cup — and was left fighting to get paid — has now got part of what they were owed following a 1News investigation.
1News revealed earlier today multiple companies across New Zealand and Australia were still waiting, after almost five months, to be paid more than half a million dollars in total for their work during the event.
Global events company CSM Live has now contacted some of the businesses it owed, partly paying one.
"It's just a huge weight off my shoulders, to tell you the truth," the owner of Dunedin's Otago Grandformat Print (OG Print), Fiona Hunter, told 1News.
"CSM Live was contracted by FIFA to deliver the event branding and signage, and has acknowledged that FIFA has paid it. However, almost five months on from the event's end and CSM is yet to pay some of its sub-contractors in full.
Less than 24 hours ago, OG Print said it was still owed more than $200,000.
"They're putting money into the bank account as we speak, so that's great because this means I am really happy about that. It means I can pay the workers off completely, I reckon, by next week," Hunter said today.
"They're putting through just over $130,000… honestly, that is just amazing."
However, one of the largest print installers in the Southern Hemisphere is still waiting for payment.
The director of All Flags in Perth, Peter Wagener, said he had noticed an increase in communication from CSM over the past couple of days, but said he still isn't expecting the issue to be resolved anytime soon.
He said his company is still owed more than $140,000.
An Auckland printing company, which doesn't wish to be named, said it had also seen an uptick in correspondence since 1News had been investigating.
"CSM contacted us over the weekend to say they are 'working hard to tidy final payments up'," it said.
1News is aware of four companies in total across New Zealand and Australia still working to get payment.
Due to the delays in payment, Hunter earlier said it had put her in a position where she would have to close up shop. When asked if today's new developments changed this, she said there are still things she has to work out.
"My morale is really down just because of the experience… at the moment I am just going to see how we go and take it from there," she said.
"I think with this experience there's been a lot of good, don't get me wrong, in the sense of learnings. The main thing is that the people are taken care of, and that's my drive actually," Hunter said.
1News asked CSM whether it would consider compensation towards companies involved who incurred financial losses related to the delay in payments.
CSM responded with: "All our suppliers will be paid for their work delivered pursuant to their contracts."
In an earlier statement, CSM acknowledged there have been delays in payment "due to the complex nature and size of this project".
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