John Sax plans $900m Taupō Golf and Villa Expansion

Businessman John Sax is preparing a major development at his Kinloch resort and golf course near Taupō, which he says will result in $900 million worth of investment into the area, BusinessDesk reports.

The upcoming development plans feature new amenities at Kinloch Manor & Villas, including an infinity pool and childcare facilities, then up to 20 new additional luxury villas and a gradual sell-down of 178 sections under subdivision consent.

Most of the new investment will come from section buyers building houses on the site and from others looking to provide services, Sax said.

“I’m guessing the total investment [since 2011] is probably in the order of about $100m,” he said.

“By the time we finish, it’s probably going to be in the order of about $900m … a significant boost to the economy in this part of the world.”

Sax has ambitious plans to transform the property into a world‑class alpine‑style resort, residential estate and service‑oriented community. He hopes to create concierge services, including home healthcare, in a similar fashion to what he’s trialling at one of his earlier developments at Kensington Park at Orewa.

Owners who build on the estate will be able to opt into the Kinloch service network, including rights to the golf course, he said.

The additional 20 villas will be built and operated under the same model as the existing villas on-site, where owners can choose to place it into the resort’s managed rental pool, using it for part of the year while earning income over the rest.

Sax bought the property in 2011 after previous ownership changes and finance company failures. The estate already includes the renowned Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and the Kinloch Manor lodge.

Sax is behind a range of companies, including Southpark Corporation, which has extensive land holdings and is one of Auckland’s largest industrial landowners.

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