No man is an island in the internet age

By ANNE GIBSON property editor

A Northland real estate agent is claiming a record for one of this year's largest property deals after closing the sale of an 8.3ha island near Tahiti for $7.5 million.

Allan Myers of Blaze Realty in Mangonui acted for the island's buyer, a San Diego resident, whose broker found the property for sale on the internet.

"This was finalised in October, during the period the Auckland agents were trying to outsell each other," Mr Myers said.

"But I'm afraid we trumped them all."

He was referring to recent Herald coverage of the sale of 139 Arney Rd in Remuera for $6.75 million and an Arney Cres house for $5.5 million.

Mr Myers claimed the sale of Motu Tiano was one of the top deals of the year, even though it was overseas and an island rather than a house.

The deal was also a sign of the power of the internet, as five real estate agents from four countries were involved.

"Our company has had an aggressive stance on internet marketing and I would estimate that 80 per cent of our inquires come from the internet."

Motu Tiano, part of the Society Islands archipelago, is a 40-minute plane ride from Tahiti's capital, Papeete, or a three-hour ferry trip. A 700m lagoon separates Motu Tiano from an adjoining island, Raiatea, where the main township, Uturoa, has a population of about 5000 people.

The island was advertised for sale at $US3 million ($7.1 million) and Mr Myers said his commission was made even more attractive "being in US dollars and with no GST."

Blaze, part of the Harcourts Group, acted for the buyer with Allan Spence from Harcourts in Remuera.

The vendor's agent was based in Hamburg, Germany, and as the transaction proceeded, the parties moved from websites to e-mail, fax and then phone calls.

Mr Myers, a specialist in buying and selling waterfront properties, said the internet allows small organisations such as Blaze to compete directly with corporations. His part of the deal was conducted entirely from his offices in Mangonui.

Motu Tiano has one four-bedroom house, designed by a top French architect in Papeete and built in local Polynesian style and materials.

The house has a free-standing kitchen, storeroom, bathroom and maid's bedroom.

The island has been extensively planted with tropical trees and shrubs in the past 20 years.

The sale included a small tractor and rotary grass mower.

A pontoon stretching out into the ocean comes complete with a roofed outdoor dining area and activities available in the protected waters include snorkelling, diving and sailing.

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