Fears of Massive Foreign Farm Buy-up
Richard Prosser MP
Spokesperson for
Primary Industries
Fears of Massive Foreign Farm Buy-up
Foreigners will be lining up to snap up New Zealand farms as highly indebted dairy farmers are forced off the land, says New Zealand First.
“It’s already happening in Australia and, as we saw on TVNZ’s Sunday, farmers are going broke while foreigners are being bussed around on shopping sprees to buy-up land,” says Primary Industries Spokesperson Richard Prosser.
“New Zealand faces a huge loss of land to foreign ownership. Foreign investors are flocking in because National has failed to protect land ownership for Kiwi farmers.
“Meanwhile hardworking farmers under huge financial strain have been neglected and often have no choice but to sell.
“We have warned time and again of New Zealand’s overreliance on exporting one product to one market. Banning exports to Russia is another blunder.
“Farmers need a fair go to try and fix financial problems in difficult times. New Zealand First believes its Receiverships (Agricultural Debt Mediation) Amendment Bill is urgently needed to keep Kiwi farmers on their farms.
“New Zealand farmers don’t want handouts, they just want to be taken seriously and be supported by common sense policies,” says Mr Prosser.
ENDS