Sheepish Williamson hasn’t stopped one farm sale

A sheepish Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today admitted in Parliament that he couldn’t recall declining even one farm sale to overseas interests as minister, says Labour Overseas Investment spokesperson David Parker.

“Prime Minister John Key is on record as saying he is concerned about some land sales to overseas buyers,” David Parker said.

“But once again John Key says one thing that he thinks the public wants to hear, while his government goes ahead and does another.”

David Parker said that last week Maurice Williamson had approved the sale of one of New Zealand’s largest dairy farms to an overseas buyer.

“In fact, it was the largest dairy farm sale ever approved, both in terms of size and the price of $34 million,” David Parker said.

“Given the fact that sale should be fresh in his mind, and given the Prime Minister is reportedly concerned about some sales, you would think Mr Williamson would have his fingers on the farm sale pulse.

“But no. When I asked him in Parliament if he had declined any sales to overseas purchasers, his first woolly answer was that he didn’t have the information.

“When I then asked him how many sales he recalled having declined to approve, he eventually conceded that he couldn’t recall declining even one. Not even one.”

David Parker said Mr Williamson was earlier asked if the changes to Overseas Investment rules meant “he will decline more overseas purchases of New Zealand farm land.

“He said he couldn’t say.

“So, having not declined even one sale up till now, he is as much as admitting the new rules won’t make a tad of difference.”

ENDS

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