The Department of Conservation is offering a unique chance for a business partner with a sense of history to help in the restoration of the Fort Takapuna Officers' Mess building.

The opportunity offers a chance for a caf or restaurant operator to bring the Officers' Mess back to life - and to help secure the long term preservation of a unique piece of the North Shore's history.

The Officers' Mess is at the Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve. It is currently vacant but it has a long history of providing dining facilities for NZ Army and Naval personnel on a spectacular cliff-top site overlooking the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Island, and is in immediate proximity to the beaches and headlands of the North Shore.

Since DOC took over the site in 2000, it has been working with community groups about ways to restore the reserve. It has also received enquires from private businesses interested in bringing dining back to the Officers' Mess.

DOC Auckland Area Manager Brett Butland says DOC is looking for a partner to use this interest in the Officers' Mess to increase access to the historic building and to help with restoration work for the reserve.

"We are keen to find the best possible proposal to establish a successful commercial business partnership that will also deliver for conservation."

Revenue raised from the caf concession will help restore and protect the Officer's Mess building and to contribute to the management of the Fort Takapuna complex as a whole.

The Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve was formed in part as a result of strong community involvement and this interest in the reserve and the building is strong and ongoing.

Brett Butland said "We are looking for a concessionaire who will creatively reflect the site's history and join with community groups to support ongoing conservation work at the Reserve."

Tenders for this unique opportunity close at 4.00 pm on Thursday 1 April 2010. Copies of the tender documents can be obtained from the DOC website www.doc.govt.nz or by contacting Dave Veart, Programme Manager - Historic at the Auckland Area Office on 027 225 2255 or dveart@doc.govt.nz.