Nigel McKenna: kiwi court ruling

Struggling Irish developer Nigel McKenna has seen his Lighter Quay Hotel Management (LQHM) company lose control of the upmarket Westin Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand.

Owners of the suites in the three-year-old hotel had taken two separate court cases against LQHM, which leases the rooms from the owners.

The New Zealand Herald reported last week that McKenna's company owed nearly €3.8m for the rooms and the High Court there has ruled that the owners will take over the property on 11 August.

The Westin is to continue as operator of the hotel.

Earlier this year, McKenna saw two phases of his €500 Kawarau Falls Station complex in Queenstown in New Zealand's South Island go into receivership.

McKenna wanted to develop a luxury hotel and leisure complex on the site but saw the first phase go into receivership last year.