Ra Ora land ‘not for sale’

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 30

Ra Ora land ‘not for sale’

PA Wellington Land developers have been seeking the prime site of Auckland’s Ra Ora Stud, but all have been turned away. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the stud’s general manager, Mr Brian de Lore, who said rumours that the stud would sell the land were “absolute rubbish.” Mr de Lore would not say who had made the offers other than to agree that one bid had been made by a public company.

“A lot of people have made approaches. All sorts of people would like to get their hands on the land,” said Mr de Lore.

The attraction of the 141-hectare (350-acre) property is obvious. Ra Ora is situated on land that is zoned rural but is flanked by industrial property on one side and it also borders the East Tamaki estuary in South Auckland. Mr de Lore said an industrialist purchasing the property would probably have little difficulty in having the land rezoned as industrial. “It would become quite valuable in years to come,” said Mr de Lore. However, it is already very valuable. Mr de Lore said a Government valuation of the land had been estimated at $2.5 million five years ago.

Mr de Lore said no figures had been mentioned in any of the offers. “They have been cut off well before then. All offers have been rejected on every account,” he said. “Offers have been put to me on a number of occasions but I can tell you it is just not going to happen. “We are continually upgrading our facilities, refencing and farming. We have completed a brick entrance to the stud this week. They are not the signs of a company interested in selling,” said Mr de Lore. Another reason for the stud’s reluctance to sell is

that the site will represent even greater value with the National Yearling Sales shifting from Trentham to Auckland. “We are really in a unique location for a stud. We are only 20 minutes from the heart of the city and the sales will become more valuable to us simply through our location.” Rumours that Ra Ora’s property would be sold have been circulating for some time. "This is an old one,” said Mr de Lore. “I am sick of hearing it. This has been bandied about for four months. “I can state quite categorically we will not be selling this land.”