Ex-business partner prepares to resume multimillion-dollar case against New Zealand luxury resort owner.
High-flying businessman Alex van Heeren is set to face a fresh legal challenge from his former business partner which could see him forced to give up half his assets which include luxury resort Huka Lodge.
The long running legal spat between the well-connected Mr van Heeren and his former business
partner, South Africa-based Michael Kidd, was heading back to court, Mr Kidd's lawyer confirmed yesterday.
NZ First Leader Winston Peters last week said the lodge was being sold to Chinese interests, a claim that has been dismissed by Mr van Heeren's New Zealand business associates. However the lodge is among Mr van Heeren's assets which are subject to a claim first brought in the High Court by Mr Kidd in 1996.
Mr van Heeren bought Huka Lodge in 1984 with what Mr Kidd said were funds from their business partnership. When the partnership ended, Mr Kidd signed an agreement which saw him receive just US$3 million of assets valued conservatively at US$38.5 million including over 30kg of gold, Huka Lodge and Fiji's Dolphin Island resort. Mr Kidd also signed another document which both indemnified Mr van Heeren against any future claims by Mr Kidd but also stated any subsequent disputes had to be settled in South African courts.
