KEY POINTS:
A High Court judge has refused to grant "lion man" Craig Busch an interim injunction, as he tries to wrest control of his Whangarei wildlife park back off his mother.
TV personality Busch had alleged Patricia Busch had overstepped her authority in sidelining him from the business he built up, after she injected money to keep it operating.
In refusing the interim injunction, Justice Paul Heath today said Mrs Busch had provided money "where one could not justify an investment on purely commercial grounds".
Busch agreed to let his mother take over in 2006 after a period of personal difficulty. He was convicted that year of assaulting his partner.
Mrs Busch raised a loan of about $1.7 million against her own property to repay her son's company and personal debt.
In exchange, she was given power of attorney, sole directorship and her son's shares in the wildlife company.
Wayne Peters, lawyer for Busch, said it was always agreed that he would repay the loan and take back control of the park.
Justice Heath said he urged mediation, but it was clear "there are difficulties in direct communication".
He suggested Busch sell his shares, or have Mrs Busch buy them, or sell the park to a third party.
If mediation does not resolve the conflict, it will return to court next year.
- NZPA
