Transcript
WZ: The Tahitian Village has been touted as one of the two so-called big projects of the current government. It is in the main a huge resort complex in Tahiti, west of Papeete, and has been hoped to be a major boost for the tourism sector. Tourism is the biggest revenue earner and the idea is that building the complex would create jobs in the construction phase and then provide continued employment at a time when jobs are scarce.
DW: There was earlier talk of the Mahana Beach project in that place, wasn't there?
WZ: Yes, that project was huge. It was to cost $US three billion and over a surface of 200 hectares see the establishment of hotels, apartments and a casino. It was the brainchild of Gaston Flosse who after returning to power five years ago want to jumpstart the economy. He had plans for special labour laws for the project to lower construction costs, and investors were said to be from China. However, Flosse was forced out of office because of a corruption conviction.
DW: So did his successor pick up the pieces?
WZ: Yes, Edouard Fritch, who took over, did sign an MOU with a Chinese consortium in 2015 amid claims it would become the largest tourism development in all of France. But the project fizzled. Last year, a substantially smaller project called the Tahitian Village was conceived and put out to tender and that's where Kaitiaki Tagaloa came in as the preferred bidder and being valued for having a Polynesian hue with its Maori ties.
DW: What sort of company is that?
WZ: It's a consortium comprising Kaitiaki Property, Iwi International and the Grey Group, which already owns and runs five high-end hotels in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. The head of the consortium was Tukoroirangi Morgan, who has among other things been in politics. His group was given a 200-day period last year to finalise the contracts. However, he missed it but got an extension until May and then until the end of June, which he missed as well.
DW: Do you know why this bid failed?
WZ: No, It is suspected that the group couldn't secure the necessary finances. The commissioning agency says relatively tersely that the consortium couldn't fulfill the contractual obligations. Mr Morgan has declined to comment. In connection with this project the only answer I ever got was a text message from him to say the issue was commercially confidential.
DW: So what's next?
WZ: The vice-president Teva Rohfritsch, who deals with the project and also visited New Zealand for it, has now asked the agency board to meet again within ten days to consider the options for fresh consultations to be opened. Last month, he said other investors were standing by. Who they are though is not known. French Polynesia has so far spent millions on this tourism venture and as yet has nothing to show for it. Politically, it is unlikely to damage the government which has a huge majority and four years left in its term.
