It is part of a 5700 acre piece of land given to the church by a Mr Campbell.

The Anglican Archbishop of Polynesia, Winston Halapua, said the church has kept aside 300 acres for Melanesians living on the land.

He explained the land was given to the church with the instructions that it be used for the mission of the church.

"In the Anglican Church, property is vested with our trustees so this transaction because it has to do with the land and the purpose falls under the trustees and they do things according to the will of the person who gave it," Archbishop Halapua said.

Responding to questions on the valuation of the land, he said the church trustees and the Kiribati Government came to an agreement on the value of the land.

"Well they have to agree, there was a lot of negotiation and fact-finding, and waiting on those who have other say on this because this is in the Government of Fiji and there is a proper channel."

Halapua said the money from the sale would be invested to serve the purpose of the church.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: fijilandsales.com

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