Director splurges on Wairarapa land

Hollywood movie director James Cameron is continuing to expand in the south Wairarapa, making at least nine successful bids to purchase New Zealand farmland.

Overseas Investment Office records show the Titanic director on a massive acquisition trail which has so far netted him at least 1142ha of land - enough for 1631 rugby fields.

And he shows no sign of stopping.

The Canadian is continuing to buy Western Lake Rd land near Featherston for his Down Under hideaway as well as other land through various entities.

He needs clearance because the land is deemed of such importance or sensitivity that the office must consider each application.

The latest purchases are the Pinnacle Grove walnut orchard and another property.

Cameron, who directed Terminator, Titanic and Avatar, received clearance for two purchases of just over 20ha, which includes the orchard.

The Overseas Investment Office has just issued decision sheets for May showing he could grow his big existing holdings north of Wellington.

The Canadian's T Base 2 Ltd sought clearance to buy the 10.8ha walnut orchard from New Zealanders Adrianus and Alexandrine van der Tol and 10.1ha from New Zealanders Ian and Maria Telfar via their company, Imae.

The sheets showed how his applications complied with New Zealand law governing foreigners buying land here.

"James F Cameron and his family intend to reside indefinitely in New Zealand. They are acquiring the land as part of a larger acquisition of land in south Wairarapa which they will use as a residence and working farm," said his application on the 10.1ha deal.

On the orchard deal, the sheet showed how Cameron intended the existing nut farming venture would expand into his other holdings.

"The applicant intends to continue to operate the land as a walnut orchard and utilise the vendors' knowledge and expertise to establish walnut trees on Pounui Station," the office said.

Last February, Cameron bought two Western Lake Rd properties, a 250ha working dairy farm and a 817ha hillside block overlooking Lake Pounui.

He bought a further 10.11ha of land on the same road last March, and three blocks of land totalling 26.8ha last May.

The 10.1ha which is lot 25 on the Western Lake Rd, Featherston, and 10.8ha at 240 Norfolk Rd, Carterton, are both listed as sensitive land.

The van der Tols say they are originally from the Netherlands.

They settled on a block of bare land where they created the walnut grove and a homestay.

"Pinnacle Grove produces some of New Zealands's finest walnuts and supplies both shelled and whole walnuts to a selection of New Zealand's top restaurants," they say on their website.

APN News & Media