The developer of the proposed Leaning Rock subdivision has put his application on hold, just a week after he spoke out about it publicly.

Many Waikerikeri Valley locals were angry and opposed to the 90ha subdivision, but nobody has been keen to speak out on the record.

The Central App received emails regarding the story outlining Andrew Dalziel’s plans to subdivide Leaning Rock Station last week.

Some came from as far away as Gibbston Valley where Andrew first started developments in Central Otago (as early as 2003), questioning his credibility.

The Companies Office website shows many past companies that he’d been involved in as a director and shareholder had since been liquidated.

The former North Canterbury farmer moved south in the early 2000s to buy land in Gibbston, and started the Gibbston Tavern.

According to the Companies Office that business was liquidated in 2012, and understood to have since sold to the new operators in 2015.

The final liquidator’s report said the company had owned properties in the Gibbston Valley, which were heavily mortgaged. The properties were sold in December 2010 to an unrelated company, resulting in a shortfall to the mortgagee.

Andrew told The Central App he had purchased Leaning Rock Station, subject to consent being approved for a 32-lot subdivision on the land, in October 2024.

The station had been on the market since 2022, and was currently still being marketed by Colliers, while the subdivision was being marketed by a Cromwell-based real estate company JHC.

The agent listed for the subdivision passed on Andrew’s phone number last week, and he confirmed his position as the new owner and developer.

Andrew, who was currently living on the Pisa View Farm on Hawkburn Road, near Cromwell, said he was also trying to subdivide his own land.

Central Otago District Council confirmed the initial resource consent application by one of his companies, Ysan Investments, was now suspended.

The Central App contacted a resident in Waikerikeri Valley on September 10, and was invited to come out and discuss the application with those in the community who were opposed to the development.

But later that same day, they messaged to say once the developer heard it would be publicly notified, the application had been put on hold.

“At this stage we won’t be making any comment, but we’ll contact you in the future if it progresses and keep you informed,” the resident said.

Council confirmed the applicant had subsequently requested that processing of the application be suspended to enable them to respond to the public notification determination.

“The process of public notification will not commence until the suspension of the processing of the application is lifted.”

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 that was leased and farmed by the McKnight family.

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