Multiple offers have been received for the sale of Matangi Station, and the vendors are currently working through the tenders with the agent.

PGG Wrightson rural sales manager Brent Irving said there were a range of offers put forward, but declined to say whether they had come from within New Zealand or abroad.

Matangi Station has been owned by the Sanders family for more than 100 years and there have been concerns within the wider mountainbike community that the Matangi MTB park might be lost in the sale.

Mountain Bikers of Alexandra (MOA) had 700 pledges of financial support to buy a public access easement at Matangi Station following a public meeting last month.

It could cost up to $1.6 million to buy an easement to ensure future public access to 140 km of trails for walking, cycling and running trails. 

The current recreational permit doesn’t guarantee access and will expire in 2035. 

“At the end of the day, the majority of people understand the benefits that the bike park brings to the town and tourism, and the vendors are well aware of that, and it’s part of the consideration,” Brent said.

Even if the vendors negotiated a deal the leasehold property had to be signed off by the Crown Commissioner, and so the sale couldn’t progress until then - which could take up to 12 months, he said.

Matangi was originally part of Galloway Station, one of Central Otago’s pioneer runs, which was first established by Scottish brothers Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858, and divided up in 1916.

John Sanders’ grandfather acquired the Crown pastoral lease for the 11,400 hectare station in September 1923.

Jack Sanders established the Matangi stud in 1940 when he bought half the stock from the dispersal of the Puketoi stud, first registered by pioneer Watson Shennan.

Read more: Hundreds pledge to support Mountain Bikers of Alexandra