SARL Manutea Lodge in Piha’e’ina

The Manutea Lodge project in Piha’e’ina (Moorea) has sparked strong community and environmental mobilization due to numerous irregularities and construction work carried out in violation of essential urban planning and environmental regulations. From the start of the project, authorities documented several infractions, including major earthworks done before obtaining a building permit, with no environmental impact assessment, no geotechnical study, and despite the land being located in a risk zone on steep terrain.

The Federation Tāhei ‘Auti Ia Mo’orea and nearby residents launched a formal opposition, contributing to a public inquiry and filing a legal challenge before the Administrative Court to request the annulment of the permit, arguing that the application included false statements and failed to meet legal requirements.

In late 2025, the Administrative Court annulled the building permit for fraud, ruling that SARL Manutea Lodge had misled authorities by presenting the project as a simple road widening, while in reality planning to build multiple housing units with far more extensive earthworks than declared. The permit cannot be regularized due to the severity of the fraud.

The Federation and the Municipality of Moorea-Maiao now call for the restoration and securing of the site, in order to eliminate the risks created for nearby residents and the surrounding environment.

This case highlights the importance of citizen vigilance and institutional oversight to ensure compliance with urban planning, safety, and environmental protection rules on Moorea.