Owners rethink beach sale offer

New Chums Beach on the northern side of the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Owners of a world renowned Coromandel beach have withdrawn their offer to sell it to the Crown and give back half the proceeds.

The offer was made late last year - subject to a fair market valuation being set - after a campaign against a subdivision plan for New Chum Beach, Whangapoua, was launched.

This includes a petition so far signed by more than 2000 and a "living beach art" appeal arranged by New Zealand-born Phil Keoghan, host of American TV show The Amazing Race.

But Environmental Defence Society chairman Gary Taylor said yesterday a fresh proposal would have to be worked out and put to the Government.

"We just need to hit the pause button and leave it for a while because of that terrible situation in Christchurch occupying everybody's attention, and quite rightly so," he said.

Mr Taylor, who is a trustee of New Zealand Coastal Trust, which is facilitating the proposal, would not say how much the valuation was, saying it was commercially sensitive.

Radio New Zealand reported that initial estimates valued the land at $20 million but the Government had a valuation of about $10 million.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson would not confirm the figure.

"We have to wait and see what new proposal they come back with," said the minister's spokesman.

Mr Taylor said the first proposal was a framework for getting key parts of the land into public ownership and the boundaries of what may be public reserve were always on the table.

"The other issues are price and land owner expectations - and timing might be important too."

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty said it was reasonable for the developer to withdraw and revise their offer, "so long as they don't re-draw boundaries or compromise wilderness values."

"Buying New Chums back at a fair price is a win-win outcome for both the developers and the country, and I am hopeful that this can still happen."

Ms Delahunty said the Christchurch earthquake was obviously a priority for Government spending.

Linda Cholmondeley-Smith, of Preserve New Chum for Everyone, said it was appreciated that state money was needed for rebuilding Christchurch.

"But New Chum is still a national priority - there are not many of these places left."

New Chum had an international reputation has one of the best unspoiled beaches in the world.

- Additional reporting NZPA