CathNews New Zealand

For some time there has been speculation that a Trust associated with the Anglican Church is selling a large block of land at Natoavatu near Savusavu on Vanua Levu, Fiji to the Government of Kiribati.

But an Anglican Church spokesman Jason Rhodes, speaking in Auckland said “The best I can establish is that there has been no sale and the trustees say there has been speculation for more than a year,”

In February, Anglican Church Trust Manager of Fiji, Bob Harness, told a local newspaper that the deal was done.

But he refused to discuss the issue with Fairfax, referring the issue to Rhodes, who blames the whole story on the media, saying it began with a freelance journalist writing for The New York Times.

Kiribati President Anote Tong said last August that they were buying the Anglican land so that his 100,000 people would have some where to move should the archipelago sink due to global warming.

The Interim Fiji Government believes the sale has taken place, and it has been reported internationally that the people of Kiribati will settle on the land.

Natoavatu remains listed with land agents.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Fijilandsales.com

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News category: Asia Pacific.