Tauranga's marine precinct, in the lower left corner of the photo, was sold for $13m to a Christchurch developer. Photo: LDR / Mark McKeown
Tauranga's controversial marine precinct sale heads to the High Court today, where opponents of the sale are expected to pack out the courtroom.
Tauranga City Council (TCC) sold the precinct at Sulphur Point for $13.987m to Christchurch developer Sam Rofe last year. But the sale was paused at the eleventh hour after the High Court granted an interim injunction.
The court today is expected to hear arguments on whether to continue the interim injunction stopping the sale, which has been in place since November 2024.
RNZ understands it will also be argued by some parties that the judicial review proceedings raising concerns about TCC processes relating to the transaction should be thrown out.
Erika Harvey is a marine precinct user and director of public affairs for Lobby for Good. She said she was not against the selling of the marine precinct as such, but against the private sale process under which it was sold to Rofe for lower than valuation.
"It should be sold with public consultation, for the right amount of money - this deal is just a bad deal," she said.
She called for locals to meet at the High Court at Tauranga to 'be there. Be seen. Watch history unfold'.
Asked what she was hoped to achieve by organising a crowd, Harvey said she wanted people to be aware of the decisions being made in their town which affected them.
She believed the best outcome would be for the sale in its current form to not go through.
RNZ approached the purchaser's lawyers for comment, who replied that their client had none to make at this stage.
Local Tauranga MP Sam Uffindel said he was planning to attend the beginning of court proceedings today because the sale was of strong public interest.
"(It's) one I've been vocal on, and one that I'm determined to see TCC held accountable for."
Tauranga City Council spokesperson Christine Jones said the council will be represented by their lawyers in court on Tuesday.
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