PM asks varsity to rethink coastal land sale

By ANNE BESTON

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday added her voice to calls for Auckland University to strike a deal over a prime slice of coastal land instead of selling it to developers.

Intense behind-the-scenes bargaining has so far failed to move the university, which is selling the $3.5 million waterfront property to fund its new business school.

The 300ha at Waikawau Bay, at the remote northern end of the Coromandel Peninsula, was gifted to the university last year by American millionaire Paul Kelly.

The bay is one of the last on the peninsula untouched by development because the Department of Conservation already owns 2000ha of the beachfront.

"It would be highly desirable for the university to facilitate Government efforts to buy the land on behalf of the people of New Zealand," Helen Clark said.

"It is very rare for there to be an undeveloped bay on the Coromandel Peninsula and we have to look to future generations of New Zealanders being able to enjoy such open spaces."

Conservation Minister Chris Carter has been leading the charge to negotiate a deal over the land but is fast running out of time: tenders close on Friday and the university has refused to extend the deadline.

The minister, Thames Coromandel District Council, the Nature Heritage Fund and long-time environmentalist Gary Taylor have been working to get the property into public ownership.

The Herald understands the Nature Heritage Fund, a land fund set up by the Government but with an independent board, is prepared to stump up $1 million. The council might also chip in and DoC has its own land acquisition fund to call on.

A meeting involving staff from the Prime Minister's department, Mr Carter and Nature Heritage Fund board members will be held in Wellington tomorrow in a last-ditch attempt to stitch together a financial package acceptable to the university.

But a further complication is that the university gets one Government dollar for every dollar it raises privately under the "Partnerships for Excellence" programme. The less it gets for Waikawau Bay, the less the Government chips in.

Mr Taylor, chairman of the Environmental Defence Society, yesterday expressed frustration at the university's attitude.

"This property is an absolute gem, it would complement the land already owned by DoC magnificently and I have to say I'm disappointed that the university is not being more helpful," he said.

Auckland University vice-chancellor John Hood was not available for comment.

Herald feature: Environment