Greens want ban on overseas landowners

The Greens have said land should not be sold to overseas people, unless they live in New Zealand for at least six months of the year.

The plan comes as part of the Greens' just-launched conservation policy.

Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons admits the policy is aimed at people like Canadian singer Shania Twain, who has bought a substantial parcel of high country land near Queenstown.

She said she has nothing against the singer personally, but claims most other countries do not allow people to buy land unless they are citizens or residents.

Ms Fitzsimons said people buying land should be contributing to New Zealand society.

She said many people are upset so much of our coastline and high country is being sold to foreigners who have no stake in New Zealand.

She said they live overseas and just want a place they can come to for four weeks a year.

She said they make it much harder for New Zealanders to own land in their own country.

- NEWSTALK ZB