NZ Yachts chairman sells land

Allen Jones, chairman of Northern Land Holdings and New Zealand Yachts, is selling a 14ha land holding in Whangarei's Port Rd.

But he remains "fully committed to New Zealand Yachts and the vision of Whangarei as the home of Superyacht City", he said in a statement.

Mr Jones bought the land, home to about 20 maritime industry tenants, about 18 months ago.

He believed its sale would make the land available to others and was a "very clear and positive way of making that dream a reality".

Mr Jones said the recent death of a close friend acted as a catalyst for the decision.

He also wanted to spend more time with his family: "I need to step back and focus on what really matters to me."

"Recent events have reinforced my desire to put balance back into my life, to focus on what really excites me," he said.

He would continue to act as a sales director, promoting Waverpiercer superyachts.

Suzanne O'Rourke, New Zealand Yachts communications co-ordinator, said putting the land up for sale was not connected to the failure of a land deal with the Northland Regional Council several weeks ago.

The NRC terminated a sale agreement with NLH after the company did not front up with a deposit for 60ha of Port Hills land near Port Whangarei.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)