| Decision | Consent granted |
|---|---|
| Decision maker | Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand |
| Decision date | 17 February 2025 |
| Pathway | Sensitive land – Special forestry test (one off) |
| Investment | Acquisition of a freehold interest in approximately 1,446 hectares of land in Waipukurau, Eketahuna and Pongaroa |
| Consideration | Withheld under s9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982 |
| Applicant | SCOOF Taonga Investments Limited |
| Vendor | CQuest Limited Partnership |
| Background | The Applicant is an investment vehicle for the Stafford Carbon Offset Opportunity Fund (SCOOF). Through the Fund, the Applicant is ultimately owned by three United Kingdom (UK) based local authority pension funds, a property and insurance sector investor, and is managed by a UK investment manager. The Applicant’s parent group is a repeat investor under the special forestry test. The land to be acquired comprises four forests consisting of approximately 1,446 hectares of freehold land, currently used for forestry purposes. The total productive area of the land is approximately 1,218 hectares, predominantly planted in pinus radiata. The Applicant plans to continue using the land for production forestry. Consent was granted as the Applicant has met the investor test criterion and the special forestry test criteria. A national interest assessment was not required because the Applicant is exempt from the definition of non-New Zealand government investor. (Case 202400646 The Applicant is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exemption Holder). |
| More information | Pavanie Edirisuriya |