Land-sale lobbyist rejects racism tag

Photo / NZ Herald

Remuera property developer John McKearney - the man behind the Save Our Farms group opposing land sales to foreigners - says he is no racist and welcomes overseas buyers prepared to move here and become New Zealanders.

Established against the backdrop of Hong Kong-listed Natural Dairy's bid for about 8000ha of farmland previously owned by the Crafar family, Save Our Farms is seeking a moratorium on the sale of all agricultural and sensitive land to overseas investors.

It began running expensive full-page advertisements in daily newspapers last week, a day after the Government revealed its long-awaited review of overseas investment rules.

Under the new rules, ministers with the final say on applications to buy farmland will have greater ability to consider New Zealand's economic interests.

But Save Our Farms says the changes are still too weak.

Mr McKearney, who said he created and had now funded Save Our Farms to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, said the campaign would continue with a series of billboards in main cities.

Natural Dairy spokesman Bill Ralston said his clients were puzzled by the stance of Save Our Farms.

"It seems to be an ignorant kneejerk reaction. They don't appear to have researched the subject or made any attempt to understand the economics of it. They've gone straight to the visceral core prejudice of New Zealanders against foreigners."

Natural Dairy this week released the results of a poll suggesting there was a racial element to opposition to land sales to overseas investors.

The poll showed 41 per cent of respondents were "extremely uncomfortable" with Chinese ownership of farmland against 27 per cent who felt that way about American ownership.

The results were issued about the same time the Overseas Investment Office said it had approved a $34 million sale of 1760ha of Central Otago land to US investors.

But Mr McKearney said his group had been misrepresented as xenophobic. He was a passionate New Zealander but welcomed overseas buyers of farms who were willing to commit themselves to this country, pay taxes and send their children to school here and to gain citizenship within a certain period.

"If they don't do that, they should put the farm on the block and get out."

Save Our Farms is made up mostly of wealthy businesspeople.

Group spokesman, lawyer Tony Bouchier, said it had formed around Mr McKearney and others who met while studying for the Master of Business Administration at Auckland University in the early 1990s.

The group also includes former Fletcher Challenge chairman Kerry Hoggard, who was chairman of farm chemicals producer Nufarm, which last year rebuffed a takeover bid from China's Sinochem but agreed to Japan's Sumitomo Chemical taking a 20 per cent stake.

This week Prime Minister John Key said his Government was unlikely to be swayed by the group's campaign.

Find out more

savethefarms.org.nz