Iwi could be first in line as $250m University of Auckland Epsom campus sale looms

A ministry and at least two Acts of Parliament were involved.

The University of Auckland’s Epsom campus for the Faculty of Education. Photo / Richard Robinson.

“The sale is governed by Crown requirements: the Ministry of Education, the Public Works Act and also the right of first refusal.”

That right under Treaty of Waitangi settlements is a legal mechanism allowing iwi the first opportunity to buy or lease surplus Crown-owned land within their rohe ahead of any other sales to other parties in the public arena.

“This means there is a prescribed process which we are working through,” Neale said.

Simon Neale outside Hiwa at the city campus. He spoke about the sale of the Epsom campus. Photo / Dean Purcell

“At the moment, there is limited use of the buildings on the campus (eg; early childhood centre) and we maintain security and basic maintenance on the campus to keep it safe and secure.”

In 2024, the Auckland Council valued 74 Epsom Ave at $115m.

Act leader David Seymour organised a public meeting to discuss the property two years ago.

David Seymour ran a public meeting in Epsom in 2024 to talk about the campus site and future uses. Photo / Alyse Wright

In 2024, Seymour wrote: “I haven’t started a church. However, over 200 people crowded the Mt Eden Village Centre for a public meeting about the future of the University of Auckland Epsom Campus.”

The university was no longer operating there and development had long been signalled as part of its plan to consolidate its operations in the city, Grafton, and Khyber Pass, Seymour noted.

“At the same time, there is considerable interest in how this land will be used in the future. Over the last five years, I have been meeting with the university leadership and other relevant parties.”

Tūtahi Tonu before its closing at Epsom Campus.

Seymour told the Herald today the main objective of any sale from his perspective was to secure some of the land for two neighbouring schools.

Those are at the south end of the campus: Auckland Normal Intermediate and Kohia Terrace School.

“The schools wouldn’t see it as expansion but keeping what they have.

“They have a paper road between them that allows people to walk there.

Iwi have the right of first refusal to buy the Epsom campus property. Photo / File

“Part of the negotiations, as I understand it, is to keep some of the campus land for the schools. I’m certain that there won’t be as much land as everyone would like.

“The amount of money involved [to buy it] is stupendous, given the Government’s current circumstances.”

As to what happens to the rest of the land, iwi under the Tāmaki collective have the right of refusal.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development had ruled itself out of buying it, Seymour said, which he backs.

Paul Majurey of Marutūāhu. Photo / Dean Purcell

“Whether or not the iwi will buy it, I don’t know. And there’s multiple iwi groups,” he said, naming Paul Majurey and the five-iwi Marutūāhu collective as well as Ngāti Whātua.

Majurey did not respond to a Herald query about the iwi’s potential interest in the land.

Seymour is due to meet Neale next month to further sale discussions.

“It’s been a very long time coming, but sooner or later there will be a change. The Government can’t afford to buy it for a giant park.

“Its natural use will be housing and I’m sure some people will have trepidation about iwi buying it but Ngāti Whatua are very astute developers who would do a good job.

“The Government could not stump up a quarter of a billion dollars to buy it,” Seymour said.

Deputy Chair of the Ngāti Whātua Orakei Trust Ngarimu Blair.

In 2023, rangatira Ngarimu Blair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei cited the whenua’s historical importance, reminding of whakawhanaungatanga and manaakitanga of his tīpuna, although he did not use those words.

“We are keen to acquire as much of the site as possible, given we are the tangata whenua of that area and we have numerous highly valuable cultural sites within and near the site.

“The University of Auckland has profited enormously off our gifts of land since 1840 and we intend to ensure our people also finally receive some value from our ancestors’ generosity,” Blair told the Herald in November three years ago.

The Herald today asked Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei if it was interested in the site.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Deputy Chair Ngarimu Blair confirmed that.

“The Epsom site sits within our tribal rohe, Te Kahu Tōpuni o Tuperiri, and as such Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has a strong interest in the whenua and the opportunity to acquire the site.

“There is an established process that must be followed, so we are not in a position to comment further at this stage,” Blair said.

Property records show the university’s Epsom campus is

33 Epsom Ave: $2.6m council valuation;111a Ranfurly Rd West; 74 Epsom Ave in a number of sections and deposited plans, $115m valuation;54 Epsom Ave: $2.6m.

Sandra Orr, general manager of school property services at the Ministry of Education, said queries about buyers – including iwi – needed to go to the university.

“We have been engaged with the university regarding the disposal of their Epsom campus and an education requirement for some years.

“Our interest is limited to some land to extend Kohia Terrace School to accommodate future growth. Those discussions are ongoing.”

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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