Luxury resort halted

Objectors have won a "David and Goliath" battle to prevent Julian Robertson building a lodge near the world-famous Cape Kidnappers gannet colony in Hawke's Bay.

Yesterday, the Environment Court overturned Hastings District Council's resource consent, granted a year ago, for the multimillion-dollar lodge on the developer's sprawling 2000-hectare Cape Kidnappers Station.

It also criticised the council for its "uncompromisingly partisan" stance in support of the proposal.

The 72-year-old American, once known as the "Wizard of Wall Street", wanted the small lodge and 24 guest chalets to complement a golf course he had already built. A sunset room would have also been cut into the cliff face.

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