| Decision | Consent declined Section 12(a) Overseas Investment Act 2005 |
|---|---|
| Decision Maker | The Minister for Land Information and the Associate Minister of Finance |
| Decision Date | 18 March 2021 |
| Pathway | Benefit to New Zealand (Benefit to New Zealand - S&I) |
| Investment | Consent is declined for the Applicants to acquire a freehold interest in approximately 131.4761 hectares in Waimarama Road, Waimarama, Hawkes Bay |
| Consideration | Withheld under s9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982 |
| Applicant | An American couple (United States 100%) |
| Vendor | Withheld under s9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982 (New Zealand 100%) |
| Background | The Applicants applied for consent to acquire approximately 131 hectares of farm land in Waimarama, southeast of Hastings, which they proposed to develop by planting 60 hectares of Mānuka trees to produce honey for export. The Applicants also intended to build a 1.86 km access road to two building lots on the Land. For consent to be granted, Ministers’ needed to be satisfied that the Investment would result in substantial and identifiable benefit to New Zealand. Both Minister O’Connor and Minister Wood were not satisfied that the investment would result in a substantial and identifiable benefit to New Zealand. |
| More information | Catherine Reid Barrister Masterton |