Turakina Maori Girls College up for sale and drawing lots of interest

The listing has had nearly 24,000 hits on Trade Me. Photo / Trade Me

The former Turakina Maori Girls College site in Rangitikei is up for sale and listings are getting an "enormous number of hits", real estate agent says.

The school was listed on Trade Me in early February
https://www.trademe.co.nz/property/commercial-property-for-sale/auction-1534178853.htm.

The school is listed as one of the "cool auctions" on the website and has had nearly 24,000 hits.

"Approximately 3000sq m (more or less) of buildings set on 5-plus hectares of flat
freehold land in Marton," the listing says.

"This property lends itself to a new vision. Previously a secondary boarding school,
there are a variety of buildings including classrooms, offices, houses, dormitories, a
hall, commercial kitchen and a beautiful chapel.

"Add to that a swimming pool and courts and this property could make a very desirable campsite, retreat centre, business hub or an educational centre."

Bayleys real estate agent Karl Cameron said there had been a reasonable inquiry level in the property.

"I won't be specific about number of inquiries but we're pleased with the response. We've had an enormous number of hits from various websites, it has been quite mind-boggling really," Mr Cameron said.

Turakina Maori Girls College closed at the end of January 2016 after a long fight to continue its proud 110-year history.

The school battled to stave off closure after Education Minister Hekia Parata announced that, due to a falling roll and financial difficulties, its future was in doubt.

Cameron said the nature of the property means it is only suitable for a certain organisation or group of individuals.

"This is a pretty unique property, it's not like a property that you'd see every day," he said.

"So it's not like somebody is just going to pop up and say 'I like that', it's going to have to be some organisation or individuals who may have a use for it, so the very nature of the buildings on it restrict that inquiry level in my view," Mr Cameron said.

Stuff previously reported Mr Cameron as saying there had been a push for the property to become a second refugee resettlement centre.

He denied saying there had been a "push" for that to happen.

He said at the time of marketing the property, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was making comments about Manus Island, and New Zealand taking more refugees.

"There was a reasonable amount of talk in the market place about maybe that could be a possibility, if Jacinda Ardern's desire to take more refugees came to fruition."

But he said no one had specifically come to him and talked of plans to turn the property into a refugee resettlement centre.

Tenders for the property close on Thursday March 8.