The world’s super-rich fear nothing more than a mega blackout, nuclear war, and related civil wars and uprisings. Many of them are already taking precautions and planning or building crisis-resistant luxury bunkers for themselves and their relatives. So is the co-founder of the online payment service PayPal, Peter Thiel, whose investment firm Thiel Capital hired ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz last year.
For many billionaires, New Zealand is considered the ideal refuge in the event of an end of the world. Also for Thiel, through his New Zealand registered company Second Star Ltd. near the town of Wanaka wants to build a spacious lodge in the remote mountain landscape – with a view of the 190 square kilometer Lake Wanaka, which is known for its crystal clear water.
Already purchased in 2015 on South Island real estate
Thiel’s bunker is located in Wanaka’s so-called Millionaire’s Row, a roughly 12-mile strip of land on the shore of approximately 28-mile Lake Wanaka, where a number of millionaires and billionaires have already planned or built luxury bunkers. and estates. Thiel acquired the necessary building land. In 2015, he bought a South Island farm, owning the land, for $13.5 million.
Thiel aims to enter the hills of Mount Alpha on Lake Wanaka through his company Second Star Ltd., which was registered in December 2009 in Auckland. to build a spacious luxury bunker of approximately 1000 square meters. According to plans by the firm of internationally renowned Japanese architect Keno Kuma, who also designed the new national stadium in Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the building will house ten bedrooms, a library and wellness areas, among other things.
Authority rejected building plans in August
There is talk of a “series of self-contained buildings”, most of which will be built into the slope. These include a “lodge for up to 24 guests”, various infrastructure buildings and water features. The facility will have a total area of more than 73,700 square meters. But the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), as the responsible building authority, rejected a corresponding application in August last year.
The planned building complex is “of such magnitude and impact as to be conspicuous and unreasonably dominant,” according to the QLDC’s negative planning permission. In addition, the land on which the facility will be built is located in an area designated as a Special Natural Landscape (ONL) in the proposed area plan. According to the building authority, the horizontal length of the building (there is talk of 300 meters, please note) with windows of one to two floors does not fit.
Conservationists oppose plans
The building would have too great a negative impact on the landscape. QLDC’s primary concern is the visibility of the bunker on the slopes of the 1024 meter high Mount Alpha. Conservationists are also running into Thiel Sturm’s plans.
Peter Thiel (pictured above) is making a name for himself as an investor on Facebook, a fan of the Republicans, and also supported ex-US President Donald Trump. His business investment fund is based in the high-tech world of Silicon Valley, California, and his net worth is estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
