The future ownership of New Zealand's only privately owned Maori meeting house is uncertain after a sale by tender could not be finalised.
Te Tiki a Tamamutu was put out to tender in October last year by Webb's auction house in Auckland and a tender price of between $8-12 million was accepted for the historic building.
Webb's managing director Neil Campbell expected details of the purchase to be completed within a few weeks but he says it ended up being inconclusive, as the conditions of purchase proved very difficult for the successful parties to meet.
Mr Campbell says Webb's and the owners of the meeting house are now in discussion with a range of other parties in an attempt to complete a joint purchase of the whare.
Te Tiki a Tamamutu was commissioned by Chief Hohepa Tamamutu of Oruanui between 1860 and 1870 and is regarded as being of national importance.
The interior features 44 carved figures, panels and pillars by one of the greatest master carvers Wero Taroi.
A European John Joshua bought the meeting house or whare whakairo in 1886 and shifted it to its present site at the Spa Hotel in Taupo.
