NZHouseChina, an Auckland company with strong links to China, was in talks with Aviemore Irrigation Co Ltd about money owed for work done on the project.
NZHouseChina general manager Rene Bros said he became aware of the problem last Friday.
"The dispute is over some work that’s been done, where we have been questioning the amount of work that needs to be done. That came as a surprise to us when we got the bill. It’s more us saying ‘what’s this about?’
"It’s not that we’re not paying — we’re just disputing what it’s cost."
He refused to give any specific details about the dispute.
Aviemore spokeswoman Deborah Kibble said in an email there was no dispute over the work done, but Aviemore was owed money.
She said Aviemore hoped for a quick resolution, and would not comment further.
She would not comment on the amount of money owed or any specific details about the work.
Mr Bros said other work on the site was going ahead and the stoush might have set the building project back two days in a planned six-month programme.
He also said there was much more work to be done on the site than originally anticipated.
"It will take time to do things right.
"It’s a complex 80-hectare site with 108 buildings on site. It’s a complex situation."
