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Casino plan for Wellington railway station

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Casino plan for railway station

3News NZ

A prominent Maori leader is facing more questions over revelations he offered to sell the Wellington railway station to a developer who wanted to build a casino on the site.

The Dominion Post newspaper also says Sir Ngatata Love's partner wanted $35 million in consultancy fees.

It details the amounts Lorraine Skiffington wanted from the man fronting the development, Loizos Michaels, including a $2.5m "good faith" payment.

Payments she is reported to have sought include $8m for securing air rights above the station, and $7m for getting the sale approved and the same amount for an intellectual property payment.

Under the terms of a Treaty of Waitangi deal in 2009, the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, of which Sir Ngatata is chairman, has a right to purchase the railway station until 2016.

Michaels is facing a trial in October on fraud charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office not related to the proposed casino deal.

Documents show Sir Ngatata had entered into an agreement for the sale and purchase of the railway station in 2010.

The SFO is investigating the Wellington Tenths Trust, of which Sir Ngatata was chairman until he stood down last month, over various payments and transactions.

Sir Ngatata has also taken leave of absence from the port trust.

Two trustees said they had no knowledge of the casino plans, which did not eventuate.

This month it was reported plans for a film museum in Wellington were scrapped after Ms Skiffington sought consultancy fees of $750,000 from director Sir Peter Jackson.

A spokesman for Mr Jackson said it did not proceed with the plan after being asked to enter a service agreement with the lawyer.

A lawyer representing Sir Ngatata and Ms Skiffington said the pair would not be commenting until the inquiry was concluded.

NZN

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Comments

16/10/2012 8:56:45 a.m.

AG Musgrove wrote:

This is tremendously disappointing. A knight of the realm's partner really letting the side down. One question - did she get the dough? No wonder Peter Jackson people smelt a rat.

17/09/2012 12:09:10 p.m.

yep good and bad wrote:

as in life in general doesnt matter whether some-one is a pakeha or a maori if they are dodgey they are dodgey. Not all Maori and not all Pakeha are trying to do the best for NZ, which is why the sooner we become one the better for all

17/09/2012 10:32:26 a.m.

Longtack wrote:

Lorraine Skiffington is as pakeha/white as you can get. What was she providing for the $35million?

17/09/2012 10:31:43 a.m.

David wrote:

And we thought the finance company executives were leaches?

17/09/2012 10:30:54 a.m.

shadoe wrote:

Scarletsail - How in the hell do a couple of idiots translate into Iwi???, guess I better start blaming all Pakeha everytime one does something illegal (and I think we all know who the biggest white collar crooks are...eh?)

17/09/2012 10:22:38 a.m.

James wrote:

Greed, greed, greed... Doesn't she realise that when the Hurse goes down the road, there is nothing on the roof-rack !!! Money won't make her happy... There is more happiness in GIVING than receiving...I feel sorry for her twisted sense of values !! Must be a very unhappy person hiding inside her somewhere !!! Cheers, James.

17/09/2012 10:00:51 a.m.

joey256 wrote:

water rights, how about they sort out this guy first, a Sir hmph

17/09/2012 10:00:24 a.m.

Scarletsail wrote:

iwi....I WANT IT

17/09/2012 9:17:34 a.m.

Andrew wrote:

Greed !!

17/09/2012 9:07:42 a.m.

katrina wrote:

what a bunch of crooks