In 1996, EAAF traveled to the island of Tahiti to provide technical assistance in the context of a local dispute. In the town of Nuuroa, a 4.5-hectare area – which included a stretch of sandy beach bordering a lagoon in Tetaitapu – was in dispute over a project to develop a luxury resort. The local community opposed the project, arguing that it was an archaeological site where their ancestors were buried. Having formed an association to litigate the matter, community members took the case to court and requested that EAAF prepare a report on the situation. Following an investigation, EAAF recommended in its report that the Tetaitapu/Rivnac archaeological site be preserved and legally protected, and that the local community be fully involved in all future decisions regarding that site. Ultimately, the resort was built, with some size restrictions, and several of those involved in the land sale were prosecuted.
