National’s Defence of Lochinver Sale Weak in The Extreme
National’s Defence of Lochinver Sale Weak in The
Extreme
New Zealand First would stop the sale of
large North Island farm Lochinver and any other sales like
this, New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters
reiterated today.
“We will not work in any arrangement
with any party that allows our land to fall into the hands
of foreign owners,” Mr Peters said. ”We would not allow
this deal.”
“New Zealanders are opposed to selling
off our land and houses, yet National has a track record of
ignoring the people, as they did with the state assets sale
referendum.
“Claims by Minister for Economic
Development Steven Joyce today that Lochinver is a
‘ridiculously small piece of land’ are in the character
of National – dismissive.
“Of course, the
13,000-hectare station is relatively small compared with the
amount National has let go – they have chalked up foreign
land sales of a million hectares in under six
years.
“Foreign buyers have a huge advantage over Kiwi
bidders with access to much lower interest rates. As more
and more foreign sales are ticked off by National, and its
rubber stamping machine the Overseas Investment Office,
prices go higher.
“Had land sales been restricted to
New Zealand residents, the sale price would be affordable to
New Zealanders. Kiwi farm and home ownership is being pushed
out of reach of so many.
“Remember, many farms like
Lochinver were built with a great deal of support from
taxpayers’ money, such as marginal land development
assistance.
“Why build up a resource using taxpayers
money then let foreigners take the advantage?
“New
Zealand has built up one of the world's leading primary
industries, and by ourselves we will continue to do
it.
“Foreign investment should always comply with
strict economic and social benefit criteria for New
Zealand.
“Mr Joyce’s mindless view that all foreign
money is good demonstrates that his understanding of this
country’s history is miniscule.
“Worse, he has no
idea of what land and houses are being sold because
apparently under his business model actual figures don’t
matter but anecdotal pixie dust does.
“His performance
on TV3’s The Nation this morning was appallingly weak,
frenetic and bully boying.”
ENDS