The developer of the Threepwood resort near Queenstown says the rumoured sale of the project did not come up in conversation when he and a son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi met for drinks.
Jim Boult, who is also the chief executive of Christchurch Airport, hosted Gaddafi's London-based son
and heir apparent, Saif al Islam al Gaddafi, in his home near Lake Hayes on Friday night.
Mr Boult said it was the first time the two had met.
The evening was arranged by mutual acquaintances who were organising Mr Gaddafi's holiday in the Wakatipu Basin, where Threepwood is developing 42 lots spread over 200ha of countryside.
"He's a very well-educated, worldly person and we traversed the usual ranges of conversation.
"He's interested in New Zealand. He's interested in early Maori settlement, about the Maori association and early white settlement here. He loved the smell of Lake Hayes [from the Boult residence deck]."
Mr Gaddafi did not talk about buying property or land, Mr Boult said.
Mr Gaddafi flew by private jet from Queenstown to Christchurch and departed New Zealand on Saturday.
He had arrived in the country on December 28.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
