The Save the Farms Group New Zealand

Overseas buyers are lining up from all countries to purchase our land. In the last five years New Zealand, through the Overseas Investment Office has approved the sale of 150,000 hectares of agricultural land to foreign owners.

We believe the Government must take urgent steps to address overseas ownership of our lands. The first step to place a moratorium on the sale of Crafar farm and other sensitive agricultural land to overseas ownership until there has been informed public debate and suitable protections incorporated into a review of the Overseas Investment Act 2005. New Zealand must retain ownership of our primary resource, the land and waters of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Overseas investment can bring positive economic benefits to New Zealand and there are a number of examples, equally there are examples where those benefits quickly move off-shore. Much of our prime wine growing areas are now in overseas ownership. Can we afford to sit back and let this happen to our large farms and the communities they support?

The culture of New Zealand is one of partnership with the land and the waters of Aotearoa. As partners we ask for the chance to be heard and the opportunity to best protect our land for future generations.

Media Release:
Save the Farms - What the Parties said >

As New Zealanders we are proud of our place in the world. We have always batted above our weight on the international stage, be it on the sporting fields or in our role as an international citizen and the responsibilities that brings with it.

We have a beautiful country and wonderful traditions which must never taken for granted. There will always be pressures economically, socially and culturally to make accommodations and that is the reality of a modern country. One of those traditions is our farming industry and the way that continues to support not only our country but the local communities which rely on farming. We cannot let that be lost without questioning, why?

Save the farms is seeking your support for an immediate moratorium on the sale of the Crafar farms and other sensitive agricultural land. Confirm your support by going to the Contact page.

Thank you, we appreciate your support.

News

OIO investigates island sale - The Northern Advocate
Eighteen months after a Northland island changed hands, the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) is still trying to confirm the sale complies with the Overseas Investment Act. The three titles for 3.7ha Motukawaiti Island in the Cavalli Islands group was transferred from the Motukawaiti Island Trustee Company to St Morris NZ in August 2010.
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Was that a cry for help from the Overseas Investment Office? - Otago Daily Times | Rob Hamlin
However, it is clear from a reading of this Act that the OIO cannot conduct a balanced evaluation of the wider economic and social benefits of any proposed overseas investment in land, and is thus compelled to approve any application that is made to it, unless specific issues related to a particular purchaser can be identified.
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No run on Kiwi farms - Key - Stuff | Fairfax NZ News
The 3 New Reid Research poll also showed 76 per cent agreed rules should be changes to make to tougher for land to be sold to foreigners. Among National Party supporters, 68.7 per cent agreed the rules should be tougher. Of Labour voters, 81.2 per cent agreed; of Green voters 82 per cent agreed and 95.7 per cent of New Zealand First supporters agreed.
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Letter. Our opposition isn't race-based - Dominion Post | Letter to the Editor from Chairman Save the Farms
I was disappointed to read Opposition to sale has whiff of racism (Editorial, Feb 1). Save the Farms maintains the position that productive farmland shouldn't be sold to overseas buyers. The issue is one of economics and the future prosperity of all New Zealand. At no time have we been driven by any racist bias.
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PM Key pessimistic that revised OIO decision on Crafar farms sale to Shanghai Pengxin will come this week; 'They need to be absolutely sure' - Interest.co.nz | Rural News
Prime Minister John Key says it's important the Overseas Investment Office is "absolutely sure" it has applied a High Court ruling on overseas investment rules correctly, as the OIO revises its decision to allow Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin to purchase the Crafar farms. Would Cameron's purchase have gone through?
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