A business group from Nelson has expressed an interest in buying Puangiangi Island in the Marlborough Sounds.
Tenders close on Wednesday afternoon and real estate agents say there has been strong interest in the sale.
Puangiangi Island is on the northeastern side of d'Urville Island and in the middle of the three-strong Rangitoto island group which also includes Whakaterepapanui and Tinui.
The present owner, 73-year-old Ross Webber, is leaving his remote island home after 46 years of farming it, to travel.
Harcourts agent Struan Bennett said there had been "very good local and national interest in the property that was quite genuine".
Many of the people who were thinking of making an offer were quite familiar with it, while at least four people from outside the region had since visited the island.
Green MP Mike Ward, meanwhile, had earlier urged the Government to buy it as a unique addition to the conservation estate with tourism opportunities.
- NZPA
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