Leaning Rock Station has been sold to a Central Otago farmer and property developer, subject to consent being approved for a 32-lot subdivision on the land.

The farm, formerly owned by Tom and Jan Pinckney - owners of the neighbouring Northburn Station, had been on the market since 2022.

New owner Andrew Dalziel, who is also currently subdividing Pisa View Farm where he lives, said Leaning Rock had been under offer since October 2024.

Consent for the subdivision on 90ha of the 2696ha station had been lodged with Central Otago District Council, and Andrew was confident a hearing would be held in coming months.

The former North Canterbury farmer moved south in 2010 to buy land in Gibbston, and started the Gibbston Tavern.

He sold that in 2015, and was involved with another subdivision with the remaining land before purchasing Pisa View Farm in 2018, where he also had a 4ha cherry block.

The workable part of Leaning Rock Station had been leased to Bevan and Tiffany McKnight for several years, and Andrew said the profit from the subdivision, if granted, would go towards a new 46ha sustainable irrigation scheme.

“There is productive farm land if it had proper irrigation, but it’s that dry,” he said.

Leaning Rock Station was added to Northburn Station in 2001 and covered the Dunstan mountain range from the Waikerikeri Valley on the east, over to Lake Dunstan on the west.

A total of 2456ha was under Crown lease and 260ha was freehold land farmed by the McKnights.

One of the lots (165ha) would be retained to support the working station, and was protected by a no build covenant.

JHC Cromwell had been marketing the 32-lot subdivision since March 2025, and Andrew said there had been huge interest - both locally and from people living in Auckland wanting to move south.

“The bulk of the inquiries are from Queenstown with people wanting to downsize,” he said.

He said there were quite a few sections (all 2ha minimum) that couldn’t be seen from the road that were ideal for smaller homes.

There would be covenants in place to restrict the size and to keep it in the higher end of the market - with sections ranging in price from $399,000 right up to $845,000 (11 sections were up on a terrace that had expansive views).

Andrew said council had indicated the subdivision wouldn’t need to be publicly notified, and he was currently working with neighbours to address their concerns.

He also intended to tarseal a further 3km of Waikerikeri Valley Road, and had been collaborating with Heritage New Zealand on the location of historical gold workings on the property.

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