Family wait for sanctuary deal closure

The owners of Glenfern Sanctuary on Great Barrier Island say they don't know why the proposal is taking so long.

Council-led group says negotiations still going on two months after first approach.

Two years after an historic nature sanctuary was put up for sale on Great Barrier Island, its owners are awaiting a deal to be settled with their preferred buyer - a consortium that includes Auckland Council, the Department of Conservation and charitable foundations.

Glenfern Sanctuary, on Kotuku Peninsula, was established by Tony Bouzaid, a top sailmaker and a champion yachtsman, from 1992.

Mr Bouzaid died in 2011 after driving the planting of 15,000 trees on an unlogged fragment of kauri forest and building of a 2km rodent-proof fence to nurture endangered wildlife on his and four neighbouring properties.

It became a visitor attraction described as a "national treasure".

The island conservation community was shocked when Sothebys International Realty listed the restored 100-year-old Fitzroy House, guest cottage, manager's house, deepwater jetty and Glenfern Sanctuary's 82ha of bush and walking tracks, for $3.35 million.

The island conservation community was concerned that an unsympathetic buyer would not join a co-operative pest control effort on the 240ha peninsula.

They were pleased in March last year when Auckland Council said it would come up with a proposal based on a private-public partnership for council consideration.

In April, after a weekend on the island, opening the Aotea Conservation Park and visiting Glenfern, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry announced that The Nature Heritage Fund, on behalf of DoC, would put in "a significant amount" towards the council-led consortium. She expressed optimism about a "good conclusion in the next few weeks".

However, the months have gone by without the owners seeing a written proposal.

The daughter of Mr Bouzaid, Tanya Parsons, said the family had been excited at the consortium proposal because it was what he would have wanted but "we as family cannot understand why it's taking so long. It would be really sad if it didn't happen."

Council parks, sport and recreation chair Chris Fletcher yesterday said that negotiations were still going on.

"The council is keen to acquire this important piece of coastal land and allow it to continue Tony Bouzaid's vision as a pioneer in conservation.

"We are committed to working with the family to meet a fair market value."

Ms Fletcher said she would invite all the parties to meet in coming weeks but declined to say how much the consortium had raised.

Ms Barry said in a statement that she was unable to comment while negotiations led by the council continue.

Mrs Parsons said potential sponsors were waiting in the wings for when it became publicly owned.

Island treasure

• 80ha restored bush sanctuary with walking tracks.

• 15,000 trees planted.

• 100-yr-old Fitzroy House Homestead, guest house.

• 2km rodent-proof fence.

• 1000 visits a year by students at Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

On the web: www.Glenfern.org.nz