Land Offered To Park

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 26

Land Offered To Park

(N.Z. Press Association)

NELSON, Aug. 20.

Part of the Tasman Bay coastal land recently purchased by an American estate agency has been offered to the Abel Tasman National Park Board.

The land agent acting for the Americans, Mr E. C. D. Baas, of Motueka, said the land was being offered to the park board at the price at which it had been offered early this year before the American purchase was made. The Director-General of Lands and Survey, and chairman of the National Parks Authority, Mr R. J. MacLachlan, said that about 90 acres of the Tonga Swamp area and 40 acres at The Anchorage, Torrent Bay, had been offered to the board. “It is not correct to say that they are offering the land at the same price as before,” he said. “The amount asked may be the same but it’s for considerably less land.” Mr Baas replied that the Tonga Swamp block was offered on its own earlier, but the park board refused it. This was being offered again at the same price. The Torrent Bay block of 40 acres was being offered for the first time and natur. ally increased, the total sum asked for, he said. The land is part of several enclaves on the coastline of the park previously owned by Miss R. Z. R. Richardson, of Nelson. The land was sold last month to the Robert H. Hunter syndicate, of Seattle, acting on behalf of American purchasers. Almost 1200 acres was involved in the deal, which covered private holdings at

Awaroa Inlet, Tonga Roadstead and Torrent Bay along a rugged 10-mile stretch of the Tasman Bay coastline. Mr MacLachlan said the American offer was being considered by the Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre) but no decision had been reached. He was not aware of recent land sales to New Zealanders in the Awaroa area at prices considerably higher than that paid by the American syndicate. A block of 10 acres was reported to have changed hands

for $2500 and one of 80 acres for $9OOO. Mr MacLachlan said that because of the nature of these coastal lands it was not possible to compare recent sale prices on an acreage basis. That was why his department had called for a special valuation before making an offer for the Awaroa and Tonga blocks during negotiations earlier in the year. “No doubt the Valuation Department was aware of these other sales,” he said.