Overseas investment decision for case 202100758 - Johannes Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg

The Applicant has been granted consent to acquire the Land under the special test relating to forestry activities set out in section 16A(4) of the Act. 

The Applicant intends to acquire the Land as an investment in commercial forestry. The Applicant is an experienced forestry investor in New Zealand and the Land adjoins other forestry land owned by the Applicant. 

The Land is currently mostly farm land (approximately 386ha), existing forestry (15ha), and native bush (43ha).  The Applicant will convert approximately 338ha of the Land into commercial forestry (pinus radiata) with the new forest to be planted by the end of 2023. Harvesting of the new forest is due to commence in 2048 when the trees are 26 years old, and replanting of a second rotation will commence in 2049. The new forest will be managed by Roger Dickie Group. 

The remaining area is unplantable, covering native bush, ridges and gullies, and buffer land. Buildings on the Land include two dwellings and associated buildings which the Applicant will subdivide and sell within 3 years (approximately 5ha). 

By way of background, the Land that is the subject of this application is Land Use Capability (LUC) classifications: LUC 3 (9ha), LUC 6 (84ha), and LUC 7 (349ha).