OIO approval process is a sham

"New Zealanders who think that the OIO approval process is needed should look at the record." said ACT Leader Jamie Whyte

"The requirement that the sale must provide a benefit to New Zealand greater than occurs when a New Zealander buys a farm is usually met by the owners with a symbolic gesture of tree planting or a similar beads and blanket type gesture to any Maoris who claim a spiritual link to the land.

"The process is also open to abuse by Government Ministers and has been. In return for granting approval for Sheng Peng to purchase the Crafer Farms, the Government required them to contract the Government’s own farming company Landcorp to sharemilk the farms. This meant private sharemilkers were put off the farms in a move that is anti-competitive, at least, and corrupt practice at worst.

"Foreign ownership seems only ever to be a problem when the buyers are Chinese. Fletcher Residential is prominent in the purchase of land for housing development. Fletcher Residential is a foreign owned company. The profits from developing this land are taken offshore yet because it is not to China no one has raised any concerns.

"Having to go through the sham process of the OIO puts more cost on Fletcher Residential for no benefit and ends up costing New Zealand home buyers.

"The Government and thinking people know that foreign investment is a good thing and the OIO process seeks to give the impression that some restrictions to it apply. The reality is quite different.

"ACT wants more honesty in the process, and has called for the removal of restrictions on land sales to foreigners. They serve no purpose, other than give false comfort to xenophobes." said Jamie Whyte

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The New Government’s Policies Of Yesteryear

Winston Peters is routinely described as the kingmaker who decides whether the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded, but equally important role as the scapegoat who can be blamed for killing taxes that his senior partners never much wanted in the first place. Neither Ardern nor Robertson for example, really wanted a capital gains tax, for fear of Labour copping the “tax and spend“ label they ended up being saddled with anyway. Usefully though, they could tell the party faithful it was wicked old Winston who killed the CGT. More

Government: National, ACT, & NZ First To Deliver For All Kiwis

The new coalition government of National, ACT, & NZ First will be stable, effective, and will deliver for all Kiwis. "Despite the challenging economic environment, New Zealanders can look forward to a better future because of the changes the new Government will make ... We believe in this country. We are ambitious for it. We know that, with the right leadership, the right policies and the right direction, together New Zealanders can make this an even better country," says incoming PM Christopher Luxon... More

ALSO:

• ACT - Real Change Begins Today
• Green Party - A Strong Opposition To Divisive Government
• Te Pati Maori - Luxon’s Government Will Whitewash Aotearoa
• NZ College Of Midwives - College Supports Solution Focussed Approach For New Health Minister
• Federation of Primary Health - Yes Minister – The Federation Is Looking Forward To Working With You