Former 1990s high-flying merchant banker Bill Birnie was once thought of as one of this country’s moneymen who made the world go around.

The boyishly dynamic chairman and managing partner of Birnie Capital Partners was a businessman who knew a good deal when he saw one.

Following his corporate dealmaking days at Fay Richwhite, and later Birnie Capital, he branched into a range of different ventures including property development and pharmaceutical life sciences.

NBR Rich Lister Bill Birnie’s Lion Rock golf course in the Far North has won resource consent approval.

The multi-million dollar course will be built on a 140ha cliff top site at Purerua Peninsula.

Mr Birnie is a director of Lion Rock Golf Course along with his Bream Tail co-directors Richard Hoare and Stephen Norrie. The company’s shares are owned by Birnie Capital Property Partnership.

The 18 hole golf course will also feature eighteen visitor accommodation buildings, a clubhouse and lodge.