John Perkins had initiated proceedings in England as administrator of their late mother's estate, alleging that his brother was liable to account to the estate for the proceeds of sale of three properties together with interest, rent and profits from the properties. An English court subsequently ordered Michael Perkins to pay an amount equating to about $276,000. The judgment was registered in the High Court last year, and would have been an interim payment only.
Michael Perkins and two others had formed Orange Centre Ltd for development in 2003. This included a proposed $30 million "Northland Cultural Trade Centre" on a site just south of the Kerikeri turn-off known as The Orange Centre. Independent commissioners acting for the Far North District Council rejected the original plans after four days of hearings last year.
The commissioners ruled that the proposal which included a conference centre, a 60-room hotel, a trade centre and a tourist information office would adversely affect the area's landscape and rural character and was too big for the 4.2ha site. The developers appealed the decision in the Environment Court, winning approval for a scaled-down version sited further away from the boundaries of the site and reduced in height. The consents approved allow a 30-bed hotel, a function centre, a retail trade centre with a 42-seat theatre, a spa, a cafe and a petrol station.
Earlier this year Perkins announced he was selling his bed and breakfast business Russell Bay Lodge (asking price, $1.3 million), three sections at Kerikeri and his interest in the Orange Centre.
The official line was that he was nearing retirement and wasn't in a position to see the project through.
The assets were unsold by the deadline set by the High Court for an indication of how he would meet the payments to the estate, and the application from John Perkins to put his brother into bankruptcy took effect.
The Orange Centre site was marketed and sold by Pete Peeters of Colliers International Whangarei.
The site changed hands three times in 10 years from 1993 to the purchase by Orange Centre Ltd in 2003; selling for $186,000 in May 1993, $545,000, in April 1997; and $650,000 in July 2003.