'Maori village' venture in liquidation

Rawaka, Suzanne Paul's ambitious Maori village project on Auckland's North Shore, went into voluntary liquidation this morning.

The venue stopped taking reservations last weekend.

Liquidator Jeff Meltzer said they hope to sell the business, sited in the old Fisherman's Wharf building at Northcote Point, as a going concern.

The decision to shut the business down was made by the Rawaka shareholders who are listed by the companies office as Suzanne Kilworth (Paul's married name), her partner Duncan Wilson, and former husband Walter Kilworth.

Mr Meltzer said Ms Paul did not wish to comment on their decision.

"She wants to spend the next couple of days absorbing what has happened and give us the opportunity to move the whole process forward, rather than continuing to revisit what has been a difficult time."

He said the owners had been trying to sell the business over the past few weeks.

Last month, Ms Paul said she had remortgaged a British property to cover Rawaka's debts and put her East Auckland mansion up for sale.

Builders and suppliers who had worked on the project have claimed they are owed more than $130,000.

- HERALD STAFF