By WARREN GAMBLE
Disgraced Centrepoint founder Bert Potter has been looking at buying rural land near Warkworth, possibly to settle down with his remaining followers.
Warkworth real estate agent Ken Bogue said yesterday that Potter, aged 74, had looked at several blocks near the town before Christmas, but had not made any offers.
Potter, released from jail last year following a nine-year term for child sex and drug offences, and 25 of his remaining followers are in-line for a substantial payout from other Centrepoint groups which want them out of the Albany property.
Justice Cartwright on Monday reserved her decision on the deal between the factions.
Mr Bogue said Potter and a group of others had looked at a variety of rural blocks. The owner of a secluded block south of Warkworth, Lance Smith, said he was approached before Christmas by an agent acting for Potter, but had heard nothing further.
His property, which has several homes on it, was not on the market and he "wouldn't be too keen" on selling to Potter.
Outside the High Court hearing this week, Potter would not say where he would go if the settlement was approved.
Two years ago one of Potter's chief supporters, Dave Mendelssohn, was looking for land around Kerikeri and Kaeo in the Far North, but denied that he wanted to set up another commune.
The court heard this week that Mendelssohn's wife and two of his children were among a small group of former Potter supporters now living in Australia. However, Mendelssohn's conviction for child sex abuse would make it difficult for him to move across the Tasman.
Warkworth's information manager, Dave Parker, said that although no one could be stopped from buying land, he believed the community would be most anxious to discourage Potter and his supporters from moving to the area.
Potter ponders a new rural refuge
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