Northland's Motueka Island is to become a spiritual retreat for members of an Eastern sect advocating world peace, personal enlightenment and transcendental meditation.
The island's owner, Maharishi Global Administration Through Natural Law, plans to build four houses, 10 accessory buildings and a boat ramp on the island.
The sect follows the teachingsof Eastern guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Resource consent has been granted, subject to certain conditions, for the retreat on the island, which is between the Cavalli Islands and Whangaroa Bay in the Far North.
