Construction will begin on a retreat and meditation centre near Glenorchy at the end of the month, after consent was granted from the Overseas Investment Office and Lakes Environmental.
The Aro Ha Retreat Group lodged consent through Lakes Environmental last October to build a retreat-style building to "reinvigorate people's connection between nature, wellness and humanities".
A spokesman for project managers Triple Star Management Ltd Queenstown, Peter Campbell, said they would be working through the final design stages this month and hoped to have the building completed by December 2013.
Other consultants involved would be architects Tennent and Brown, E Cubed Workshop, Dunning Thornton, all of Wellington, and Queenstown development company Darby Partners, and Aireys Consultants.
At the forefront of the Aro Ha Retreat Centre development is United States-based Chrysalis Retreats "wellness architect" Damian Chaparro.
Mr Chaparro told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the word aroha may be described as the "binding force of the universe" and this would be reflected in the centre's activities.
"We are quite excited, although two years of building keeps things in perspective."
Chrysalis Retreats specialises in "a unique fusion of Eastern practices, Western modalities, and outdoor adventure".
Mr Chaparro's vision for the centre was to "host the most adventurous wellness retreats available".
Both the OIO and Lakes Environmental had given the applicant the nod for the acquisition of the Wyuna Preserve land.
The centre would cover 6.5ha of land 4km south of theGlenorchy township.
Activities would include yoga, meditation, permaculture, philosophy, massage and dance.
Participants would be accommodated in the 32-person "overnight house".
In October, Mr Chaparro said his aim was to bring holistic health to New Zealand, which would include meditation, philosophy and massage. He said he would target locals, as well as international visitors.
The resort would be "flavoured by Eastern philosophy" and he described the centre as a "school camp for adults".
"I think what we are doing is going to benefit the community and put New Zealand on the map for holistic health."
A spa building, three accommodation buildings, a community building (the hub) and the main "Aro Ha room" for meditation and teaching, would be built.
