Sprawling Onekawa campus for sale

Massey University is selling its Onekawa property in Napier.

The university's communications director, James Gardiner, said Massey was strongly committed to Hawke's Bay but the property was not needed since the university relocated its College of Education to the Eastern Institute of Technology campus in Taradale.

The Prebensen Drive property was used as a base for the Electoral Commission during last year's general election.

Rob Nankervis, from Colliers International, is marketing the property and says the site was recently re-zoned to accommodate large-format retail stores, which include Mitre 10 Mega, Farmlands and Hire Pool.

The site fronts the main route from the expressway to Napier, with rear road access into the Onekawa Industrial area via Ford Rd.

"The large, flat site has a sizeable 77 metres of street frontage and offers a high-profile position in an area with several large format retail stores," Mr Nankervis said.

A proposed four-lane highway along Prebensen Drive and extending Ford Rd through Severn St to Prebensen Drive would make the location prime, he said.

"The site would suit a large format retailer wanting to move into Napier or an investor or developer looking to take advantage of a high profile site."

The 7494sq m property includes 1820sq m of buildings, including office and teaching blocks, library and art block.

It has a Government valuation of $2.25 million and will be auctioned on site on Thursday.