Vote to halt trust’s Shelly Bay sale
The future of Shelly Bay is uncertain after opponents to a proposed development challenged its sale.
A motion was passed at the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) annual meeting on Saturday, calling on the board to cease its discussions with developer Ian Cassels.
Last month the trust confirmed it had entered a joint venture with the Wellington Company, Cassels’ company, just months after members voted down a different proposal with the same company.
The trust took ownership of the land in 2010 as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement. Since then there have been a series of proposals to develop the land, however none have progressed and the buildings are deteriorating.
On Wednesday Dr Catherine Love, daughter of the recently jailed fraudster Sir Ngatata Love, said a motion calling on trustees to cease talks with developers had passed with ‘‘overwhelming support’’.
The motion also said the trust should discuss all Shelly Bay options with its members.
However, she was not clear on the legal position of the board regarding the vote.
Another motion was passed that there should be an independent audit review of the trust’s operations, from 2009 to the present.
PNBST chief executive Jason Fox said members would have more opportunities to discuss the proposed joint venture.
Cassels said he was confident the trust would work through and resolve its issues. ‘‘Shelly Bay is a good deal for all parties, which will become obvious when they [beneficiaries] look at it.’’
Meanwhile, Neville Baker is the only existing PNBST board member to be re-elected, with former members Sam Kahui, Kura Moeahu, and Te Rira Puketapu failing to gain enough support.
Mahina Puketapu, Hannah Buchanan, Wayne Mulligan,John Coffey, and Kara PuketapuDentice were elected as trustees.
They will join Holden Hohaia, Peter Jackson, Toarangatira Pomare and Howie Tamati, who are in to the second year of a threeyear term.