Vaimaanga Hotel developers should not have the edge over local developers-Tepaki

This week the Herald spoke with developer Tim Tepaki for his reaction to the announcement by Prime Minister Jim Marurai last Friday that new developers were to complete the Hotel project at Vaimaanga.
Tepaki, who has maintained a self imposed media blackout regarding his plans for Vaimaanga, agreed to respond exclusively to the Herald.
Asked if he knew that Pa Ariki and developers from Auckland met with Cabinet last week to outline plans for the Vaimaanga Hotel, Tepaki said a message to that effect was passed on to him, sketchy in details but understood to propose completion of the hotel as originally intended by the Sheraton developers, which his joint venture also proposed initially but abandoned on further consideration and changed to the current proposal.
Tepaki said he understood the Auckland developers asked for the various approval processes to be fast tracked and he hoped the all important EIA process is not compromised in that manner, environment being important to the country. He added he did not abort the proposal they are now pursuing without good reason.
Tepaki said he also understood dispensation of some taxes and levies have been requested, which he can understand as developers always look for concessions. He said dispensations for tourism developments have already been debated by parliament and rules are in place for local and foreign developers alike. Foreign developers, said Tepaki, should not be given the edge over local developers. He confirmed he has not requested dispensations for his latest proposal and he has no plan to do so.
Tepaki admitted he was disappointed to learn of this latest development on Vaimaanga because as late as the previous week the message he had from Pa Ariki’s representative was “the door remained open”, which does not make sense as obviously the proposal now on the table would have been under consideration for some time. Perhaps her advisors were negotiating behind closed doors and she genuinely knew nothing of it, said Tepaki.
Tepaki said developers approaching Pa Ariki about Vaimaanga is nothing new and has happened from time to time since the land lease was signed in February 2006, and he questioned the legality of such approaches. He said forfeiture of a lease as he understood it was a matter for the court to decide and he expects that once he sorts out his joint venture problems (his joint venture partner went into receivership) and pays the ground rent outstanding from the joint venture, the lease will again become current. “The Auckland boys still have to apply for EIA approval,” said Tepaki, “which approval is by no means guaranteed.”
Tepaki said he is aware of who are involved and said they were good, solid developers. Their interest is in completing a resort built some 20 years ago and in his view no amount of embellishing will deliver 5-star quality accommodation. It’s likely to end up as just another 4-star resort competing with similar resorts on island, said Tepaki, whereas he is interested in delivering a 5-star plus resort that will allow a quantum leap for tourism from current to truly international class. It would also add a new dimension of high yield tourism rather than compete with current operators, and would stimulate the economy significantly. Moreover, he said, he would like to see the financial benefits from development stay in the Cook Islands rather than be remitted offshore.
Tepaki said he too will shortly seek to present his proposal to government and opposition members as the Auckland developers did and take it from there!

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?