A developer in Franz Josef is threatening to sue the Westland District Council if it goes back on a decision to close the region's heliport.
The council decided in 2004 that noise concerns and the risk of flooding meant the heliport, beside the Waiho River, should be shut.
Developer Gavin Molloy says the council has confirmed the decision three times since then, so he's built a replacement heliport.
But he says the council has realised it can make a profit from the facility, and now wants to keep its heliport open. A vote will be held next month.
Westland mayor Maureen Pugh says there's no reason why the two heliports can't co-exist.
