OIO must explain Argentine pollution prosecutions
David Cunliffe
MP for New Lynn
Land Information
Spokesperson
MEDIA STATEMENT
29 April
2016
OIO must explain Argentine pollution
prosecutions
The Overseas Investment Office (OIO)
has questions to answer about how it safeguarded our
sensitive land by allowing foreign investors with criminal
prosecutions to purchase Onetai Station in Taranaki, says
Labour’s Land Information spokesperson David Cunliffe.
“Rafael and Federico Grozovsky were found ‘criminally responsible’ for environmental pollution and discharging toxic chemicals into a river that put locals at risk of skin lesions, lung disease and cancer.
“This raises questions on how they met the good character test for overseas investment, especially given environmental criteria were part of the approval.
“Louise Upston must make it clear if the OIO was aware of these criminal prosecutions in assessing whether the Grozovskys passed the ‘good character’ test.
“New Zealanders are deeply concerned about protecting our environment and our land from questionable overseas investors. National’s increasingly arrogant approach to foreign investment is out of touch,” says David Cunliffe.
ends