How Whale Oil rivals found themselves on the same team

PHOTO: Imperial Homes’ Li Zhu (also known as Andy Lin), centre, ended up being briefly defended by both Matt Blomfield, left, and Carrick Graham. Photos: Supplied and Chris Skelton/Stuff

The strange story of how two men on opposite sides of the Whale Oil saga bizarrely (and briefly) ended up on the same team defending a wily property developer and landlord.

Last week wasn’t a great one for Auckland-based Li Zhu, owner of construction company Imperial Homes.

The problems started on Monday when Auckland Council announced that Zhu, three of his property companies and two of his colleagues were facing 42 charges relating to an affordable housing development at Hobsonville, northwest of Auckland.

The case involves Imperial Homes selling homes to young families for $636,000 (the maximum under the council scheme) but then charging up to $48,000 more for so-called extras like a driveway or fencing. See previous Newsroom story here.