Convicted sex offender sells land to luxury lodge

Convicted sex offender and Former Huka Lodge owner Harland Peter Harland-Baker has sold a slice of land to the exclusive lodge.

The luxury lodge on the banks of the Waikato River, which has hosted royalty, film and pop stars, will use the land to expand its grounds and shield its wealthy clientele from prying eyes and lenses.

Lodge owner of 20 years Alex Van Heeren, is reported to have paid more than $5 million for Mr Harland-Baker's 5ha of land adjoining the lodge's existing 7ha.

The certificate of title for the land still shows the owners as Harland Peter Harland-Baker and his estranged wife Diana Louise Harland-Baker.

Mr Harland-Baker is serving four years in jail after admitting indecently assaulting 14 girls under the age of 12 between 1980 and 1984.

He was also found guilty by a jury in the High Court at Rotorua of two further charges relating to offences between 1997 and 2000. He was sentenced in April this year.

It is not known whether the money from the sale will go to the Harland-Bakers or be used to pay creditors.

Mr Harland-Baker's lawyer, Colin Perrior, described Mr Harland- Baker at his trial as "flat broke".

There are two caveats registered on the land -- one by Worldwide Leisure Limited (the owners of Huka Lodge) in 1994 and one by Huntaway Holdings Ltd in February this year.

It is understood that when the Harland-Bakers' land was originally split off from Huka Lodge, the lodge was given the first option to purchase it if it ever came on to the market.

Huka Lodge general manager Co Engels said Mr Harland-Baker originally owned both the lodge land and the adjoining land as one parcel but split off a piece for himself when he sold the lodge in 1984.

The new land is immediately upstream of Huka Lodge and features a derelict stable block on rolling land with scrub and grassy areas.

It is partly sheltered from the Spa Park-Huka Falls walkway on the opposite river bank.

"We will develop it into some beautiful gardens for Huka Lodge and that's all we'll do with it," Mr Engels said.

"It's fantastic, we're very excited. It's another nice addition to Huka Lodge.

"It makes it a 30 acre property so that gives our guests enough space and privacy which is what they expect here when they come and visit us."

Rich and famous guests who have stayed at Huka Lodge include the Queen and Prince Philip, and Hollywood stars Kate Winslet, Michael Crawford and Joan Collins.

The lodge was named one of the world's best hotels by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine in November 2002.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)