In the emails, Clibbery variously calls Robertson a racist, selfish, arrogant, \u201ccomplete prick\u201d, and \u201cconsummate taker who gives nothing back\u201d.<\/p>\n
It came after Robertson, who is behind Ocean Ridge, a $200 million property development on the outskirts of the South Island tourist town, lodged a plan change application with the Kaik\u014dura District Council to add 150 homes and increase the size of the supporting town centre from 2ha to 5ha. <\/p>\n
Garry Robertson is behind the Ocean Ridge development in Kaik\u014dura. Photo \/ Kurt Bayer<\/p>\n
Robertson, through his company, Cargill Station Ltd, has, according to the statement of claim, assisted the local council on a $7.8m grant from K\u0101inga Ora\u2019s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) to upgrade roads, cycleways, infrastructure and an additional route in the South Island tourist town.<\/p>\n
The release of funding is dependent on the plan change proceeding and 66-year-old Robertson \u2013 who has helped mastermind some of Auckland\u2019s most substantial new housing developments, including Pokeno, Milldale, Millwater, Silverdale, Flat Bush, Karaka, Tuakau and Drury \u2013 contributing approximately $8m of his own money to district council infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plaintiff [Robertson] has, for the last decade, had regular dealings and a positive working relationship with the KDC [Kaikoura District Council] in relation to the developments and other matters,\u201d the court action says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is vital to the business interests of the plaintiff, his principals and the developments that the plaintiff maintains a productive relationship with the mayor, councillors and employees of the KDC and that his reputation is not diminished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Businessman Garry Robertson photographed on his farm in Karaka, South Auckland. Photo \/ Sylvie Whinray <\/p>\n
On November 1, 2023, Robertson sent an email \u201cas a member of the Kaik\u014dura community\u201d to various council officials and employees, including Clibbery, outlining concerns he had over what he saw as \u201cunacceptable behaviour\u201d at a local drifting track.<\/p>\n
Nearly three weeks later, Robertson made a request to the district council under the Official Information Act for all documents containing his personal information.<\/p>\n
The tourist town of Kaik\u014dura. Photo \/ Kurt Bayer<\/p>\n
In February 2024, he received the documents, which included two emails from Clibbery\u2019s council account; one dated November 2, 2023, which was sent to the council chief executive, Will Doughty, and another the next day to the mayor, councillors, and Doughty.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobertson is a complete prick, and I cannot understand why Council continues to pander to him,\u201d Clibbery writes in the first email.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the consummate taker who gives nothing back, and the community should not expect to ever get any benefit from dealing with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I was not employed by Council I would be actively advocating to stop my taxpayer money going into this parasite\u2019s pocket via the IAF.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kaik\u014dura District Council has been named in the defamation action as a defendant. Photo \/ Kurt Bayer<\/p>\n
In the next email the following day, Clibbery goes further, which the statement of claim says are \u201cdefamatory and untrue statements\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my view, he is prime example of what extreme wealth can turn a person into; arrogant, entitled, self-righteous, selfish, racist, hypocritical, over-confident in their abilities and to a significant degree detached from normal society, but either unable or unwilling to recognise this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clibbery\u2019s claims that Robertson is a \u201cconsummate taker\u201d whose objective is to \u201cdrive Kaik\u014dura property prices higher without any regard for the broader social consequences\u201d, are defamatory, the court action alleges.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly believe that Mr Robertson is a blight to this community, who we would be best without,\u201d Clibbery ends his email with.<\/p>\n
Robertson says that the \u201cdefamatory meaning of this statement is that he poisons, spoils, and has a severely detrimental effect on the Kaik\u014dura community\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Ocean Ridge development in Kaik\u014dura. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
The land aggregator says he has only ever met with Clibbery once, \u201cin about 2019 for about five minutes\u201d before a council group meeting.<\/p>\n
He claims that the defendants have acted in \u201cflagrant disregard\u201d of his rights and with \u201cmalicious intent\u201d.<\/p>\n
The statement of claim says Robertson seeks an order for ordinary damages of $1m against both the council and Clibbery \u201cto be further quantified at trial\u201d, and a further $250,000 each for punitive damages.<\/p>\n
When approached by the Herald, Robertson declined to comment.<\/p>\n
Doughty confirmed that the district council received a copy of defamation proceedings yesterday and \u201cwill be seeking legal advice\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo further comment at this stage,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Clibbery also declined to comment. <\/p>\n