TV legend ' move to a tiny New Zealand town sparked uproar with the locals after they accused him of "colonising" their beloved hamlet. The star emigrated to New Zealand in 2019 with his better half and quickly bought £15million worth of real estate alongside a pub he cheekily christened The B*gger Inn, sparking controversy with the neighbours. The village is home to just 2,500 people, with a number left furious after he was given permission to buy 12 houses whilst also planning a restaurant, shop, and coffee house on his sprawling River Haven estate.

Despite trying his best to blend into village life, including gestures like footing a £3,000 traffic management bill for the local school, former star Edmonds ended up at odds with some residents. According to Stuff, a New Zealand news outlet, one villager said: "I feel like he's a coloniser. He's come in like [he's] the lord of the manor. He's got this attitude about how he's improved the place and made it amazing - it was already amazing."

Some locals voiced their disapproval of his "flashy" fleet of 4x4 cars, which includes a Land Rover equipped with a PA system for blasting out music, lights and sirens. Concerns about privacy breaches were also raised due to Noel installing security cameras at the entrance of one of his properties, reports the Mirror.

Noel named his pub The B*gger Inn, and the drinks menu continues the comedic theme, offering customers a Dickens cider and a T*ts Up lager.

Unperturbed by the grievances, Noel's River Haven website boasts: "Fact: Kiwis love traditional Irish and English pubs. Apparently the only reason Kiwis travel to Europe is to see old architecture and visit a pub or work in it. Well, have we got exciting news for you guys. When our construction team were digging the foundations for the new Health Club they unearthed an original pub. Established in 1642 the pub, which had no name, was popular with local residents and early tourists."

He further remarked: "Indeed, we found a photograph of Abel Tasman leaning on the bar enjoying a pint of ale with some of the locals. Supported by archaeologists, historians, know-alls and general busy bodies our team have restored the old building and relocated it alongside the Clubhouse Restaurant. It was quite a tight fit and when Bert said 'we'll never get the bugger in' we decided that's its new name. So, Ngatimoti now has its own traditional pub - The Bugger Inn."

Noel has previously expressed understanding towards locals who may have initially been sceptical about him. He once told Stuff: "I totally sympathise with the suspicion. When people are ignorant they become more suspicious. We tried to just tread gently, I'm sure we upset some people, I'm sure there are people... who are still upset - nothing deliberate, we've tried to listen. I'm here to give, to make a difference. My love has always been the environment, the countryside. I haven't just been buying property for the sake of it."