An east Auckland mother is devastated at having lost $10,000 she paid for her son to attend an educational overseas trip run by Actura Australia.
Numerous local parents are facing large financial losses following the company’s sudden collapse.
The company and its New Zealand subsidiary ran trips for school pupils to locations including NASA in the United States and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Several east Auckland schools and numerous local parents, many of whom are out of pocket more than $10,000, have been caught up in the situation.
In an email to parents, Actura Australia Pty Ltd chief executive officer Charles Chung said: “It is with regret and sadness that I must advise that Actura Australia Pty Ltd has with immediate effect gone into liquidation, today 14th June 2024.”
The Times contacted Actura NZ via email on June 15 about the company’s liquidation and received a reply stating: “Thank you for your email. Unfortunately Actura has ceased all operations. This inbox is no longer monitored.”
The Actura Australia website appears to have been taken offline.
One local mother, who wishes to be identified by her first name – Linda – says her family is among those affected.
Her son, who attends Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga, was due to fly out from New Zealand on July 8 to attend Actura’s CASE Ocean School.
“We have paid all up just short of $10,000 for this experience.
“Actura were upselling and charging for add-ons they knew they could never provide.
“We paid an additional $375 in April for a supposed academic transcript of the trip and another $214 on May 20 for merchandise which we never will receive.
“This is on top of the $1000 deposit, the $3000 progress payment, then the following two more progress payments of $2675 each through the school account.
“There was a Zoom conference held for Ocean School just three weeks ago and all the kids and parents were being built up for this expedition.
“There was no mention of any issues whatsoever. The kids had their itineraries, packing lists, accommodation, etc … on the surface it all looked well.”
Linda says it was a lot of money for her to find “as we are not a wealthy family”.
“It meant a lot of very long days and taking on a second job to try and fund it.
“It is absolutely gut-wrenching that after all this hard work we have lost $10,000 and my son has nothing to show for it.
“The email advice [from Actura Australia] came through to my inbox at 12.11am on Saturday morning. This timing in itself was incredibly poor.
“Knowing full well there was nothing any of the families could do over the weekend.
“I was left feeling physically sick at losing all this money and having to tell my son he is no longer going on this trip of a lifetime. There was no care factor in the delivery.”
Linda says when signing her son up to the trip she trusted it was a safe investment in his future development.
“Usually when you book travel you book travel insurance so think you should be covered if something goes wrong.
“Considering we were only getting forms to complete travel insurance documents last week it appears we are left high and dry and completely out of pocket.
“From what I have personally been able to uncover Actura has paid for the Air New Zealand flights and I have asked the question that since this trip is being cancelled can we get the money back for at least this part? I am still to find out an answer.
“There needs to be some protection for parents who enter into these things in good faith and are left high and dry.
“We are all just left feeling devastated, angry and taken advantage of.
“I believe the expedition for our school alone flying out on July 8 is over 30 children and four teachers. We are talking some serious money here just for one trip.”
Linda says the advice parents received from Actura, to contact their credit card companies about payments and charge-backs, “is also a dead end”.
“It is just so frustrating as so many families are wrapped up in this and nobody wants to help.”
Saint Kentigern College principal Damon Emtage and associate principal Duncan McQueen wrote to impacted parents on June 17.
Their letter states Actura’s sudden liquidation is “truly devastating and we are outraged that our students and their families are involved in this situation”.
“Today, we have been in various meetings with other affected schools to understand the situation in more detail.
“Actura approached us in 2019 with a range of educational travel opportunities.
“They have previously provided two tours for our students, and their services have been used regularly by many schools.
“Based on meetings and communications we had with Actura we had no cause for concern about the upcoming trip.
“Last year, we negotiated with Actura to allow for the majority of the trip payments to be made at a later date and in three instalments.
“All funds paid to Saint Kentigern were immediately transferred to Actura, and insurance was organised through Actura which we are currently investigating.”
The school says it will be in contact with parents as soon as it has a clearer understanding of Actura’s actions and the planning and payments made for the trip.
“We are acutely aware of the significant impact this has on our students and their families.”
School staff were to meet with impacted students to discuss the situation.
