French Polynesia is awaiting the final signatures to kickstart the biggest tourism project the South Pacific has seen.
$US700 million (NZ$1 billion) is the projected cost of the Tahitian Village which the government wants to build west of Papeete.
A Samoan-New Zealand consortium Kaitiaki Tagaloa has now less than half a year to finalise the contract.
Walter Zweifel reports.
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Aerial view of Papeete, French Polynesia Photo: Supplied