Rotorua District Council and real estate company Ray White have agreed to cancel their listing arrangement for selling a surplus council-owned property in Horohoro to end any claims of a potential conflict of interest.

The Rotorua District Council is selling a piece of land in Horohoro that is on the market for $1.2 million.

It was listed on the Ray White Real Estate (formerly Coopers) website with council chief executive Peter Guerin’s wife Toni Guerin, named as the estate agent in charge of the sale but that agreement was cancelled yesterday following criticism of a perceived conflict of interest by various parties including some district councillors.

Mr Guerin said he instructed his managers on Thursday afternoon to discuss terminating the agreement with Ray White in order to put an end to any “finger pointing or claims of potential conflict of interest”.

“It’s very clear to anyone who has all the facts that there has been no conflict of interest in the council listing the surplus property for sale with this company.”

“We acknowledge that perceptions may exist in the thinking of some people, however everything is absolutely above board and one hundred per cent squeaky clean.”

FULL STORY IN SATURDAY’S DAILY POST