NZ Centre for Political Research

Lets dissect the issue.

Look at this for gross ignorance .

“ Yes - good on the courts! And NO I DON'T LIKE CHINA”

Interesting. From reading the postings on this thread it appears that gross ignorance is dominant, again. Like 70% of NZ’s who oppose the sale of the Crafar Farms to foreigners. A person recently said “ slit eyed gits.” Winston Peters called it economic treason.

If I have misinterpreted, I will most sincerely apologies.

My understanding.

The Crafter Farms were owned by a private individual, called Crafer.

The owner misused his investment and borrowed beyond his ability to pay.

The result is that he had more creditors than he could service.

Crafter declared bankruptcy. Receivers called in.

Apparently $ 40 million in debt. This would be to mostly New Zealanders. Local people and small businesses that supplied and serviced the farms.

Shanghia Pengxin ( slite eyed gits) has offered to pay $210 million for the farms.

The Crafar Farms purchase group, Sir Michael Fay etc has offered $171.5 million. A $40 million difference.

Thus some New Zealand creditors, I do not know how many, may not receive what is owed.

This is “beggar thy neighbor economics. “

Michael Fay, on top , but how many New Zealanders are underneath.

Are you happy supporting and encouraging this?

How about it then, jackp!!?? I will be right behind you. Sadly I'm a follower, not a leader. Goodness me, something needs to be done - and soon. Things are getting more and more out of hand. What is wrong with everyone? Are they too wrapped up in their own lives to take note of what is happening. Well, if they are, it won't be long before things start to affect them but will it be too late by then?

I have heard via the grapevine that John Ansell is going to do something within this year to try and halt all the racist nonsense and I will support him all the way if I can find out when and how he will do it. He is an expert in advertising so I think it will be via advertisements.

I agree Nellie. Foreshore and seabed all over again. Binding referendums is only way for Kiwis to take back their country and keep politicians honest. Where do we start? Believe it or not, the United States started with 2 people that had an idea about a Republic in the late 1700's. They met at clandestine places because they would be considered traitors according to the British. I believe Samual Adams was one of them.. New Zealand could certainly begin the process with the technology available and the time seems right.

I believe the latest is that the decision on the Crafar Farms is now to be decided by Maurice Williamson and Jonathan Coleman in their office!! What an utter disgrace. We all know what they will decide don't we. Shades of the Foreshore and Seabed issue surely!!?? It seems our politicians are never going to act in the interests of the country but will push their own agendas. Our whole system needs a drastic shake-up. We must push for binding referenda and Amy Brooke's 100 Days.

Let's hope they do support NZ first, Viking.

Well the dumb bloody farmers had their chance but couldn't be bothered applying any brain power to their voting.
The Nats have been forsaking them for at least two elections if not more becuase rightly or not they perceived that the metro vote would be what got them into power. (rightly it seems).
Anyway their problem now is who will they vote for. If not National It can only be NZ First. They won't vote Labour nor Green nor Maori so they really have litlle choice unless they fund and start up another right wing party.

National voters reject Crafar farm deal
08:45 Sun Mar 4 2012
AAP

Many lifelong National voters say they will never vote for the party again over its approval of the sale of the Crafar dairy farms to a Chinese company (Getty)

National faces a backlash from heartland supporters over the sale of the Crafar dairy farms to a Chinese buyer, with many vowing they will never vote for the party again.

Government ministers approved the sale of the 16 North Island farms to Milk New Zealand Holdings, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pengxin, in January.

Many National backers have written to Prime Minister John Key to express their distaste for the deal, with more than 100 emails or letters opposed to the sale, the Sunday Star Times reports.

"I personally feel that such sales are an act of treason and gross betrayal of trust and will not be voting National next election," one letter says.

Another reads: "As far as I am concerned the National Government is selling us down the river. I have been a National Party supporter for 45 years and my family before me. Never again.

"The agreement to sell the Crafar Farms to Asians when New Zealanders wanted to buy them is the final nail in the coffin for me."

Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that the farms were offered for sale individually in Asia, despite potential New Zealand buyers being told the farms could only be sold profitably in a bulk deal.

The advertisements, in the South China Morning Post and Singapore's Straits Times, were released to the Sunday Star Times by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) under the Official Information Act.

The ads described the farms as "one of the largest and most highly anticipated rural portfolios to ever come to the market in New Zealand".

"A significant opportunity to invest in New Zealand's rural and dairy sector. Farms are for sale individually or as a portfolio."

The Shanghai Pengxin deal - reportedly worth $210 million - remains on hold after a rival consortium, led by businessman Sir Michael Fay and offering $171.5m for the farms, went to the High Court to overturn the decision.

Justice Forrest Miller ruled that the ministers "materially overstated" the economic benefit of the transaction to the New Zealand economy and they must reconsider Milk New Zealand's application.

http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8429 ... -farm-deal

Heartland backlash over Crafar farm fallout >> http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic ... rm-fallout

Read this link to see the unhappy comments!

The pain of Key selling strategic land to foreigners and watching profits go offshore is bad enough.

Nek minnit ......

Iwi claims Crafar farm

MARYANNE TWENTYMAN
Last updated 12:14 20/02/2012

The controversial Crafar farms sale took another twist today when a group of local iwi moved on to a Benneydale farm and called for their ''ancestral land'' to be returned.

The Benneydale property is one of 16 Crafar farms under offer from Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin.

The occupiers, who are not part of the Sir Michael Fay group currently challenging the Chinese deal, say they ''will not be going away''.

The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) is reconsidering aspects of its consent recommendation for Shanghai Pengxin to buy the farms, on the order of the High Court.

After judicial review proceedings brought by the Fay-led group of farmers and iwi, the High Court ruled the OIO in recommending approval of the Chinese bid to the Government, did not properly apply the economic benefit test in the Overseas Investment Act.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming ... rafar-farm

I wouldn't put it past Key if he benefits from future trades with China. He was bragging that the Chinese will bring an extra 15 billion. The guy is a pathological liar if he can make a buck. What ever happened to his great bike ways.. suppose to employ 4000. Let's hope the farmers buy the property and Key will walk away with another egg on his face. It's been a good three weeks watching Key squrim.

From what I understand the Fay consortium is offering something less than the Chinese offer - I am not sure what the difference is. However, the Fay consortium claims it will match or better the investment in the farms. Some specifics were mentioned on one of the tv news bulletins in the last few days.

I don't know the specifics about land tenure in PRC but in many SE Asian countries one often has to go into partnership with a local to be able to set up a business, buy (or in some countries, rent) large tracts of land etc, and the local partner holds a minimum of 51%. In my view, if the farms are to be sold to a PRC entity, it should be done on the basis of a 51/49 partnership NZ/PRC. On top of that, the majority of employees should be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents but the PRC could bring in a number of its own citizens for training or for working the farm on the basis that any visa issued to such a person would be for twelve months with a possible single six month extension upon application after which the person would be required to leave NZ and not return for a period of time equal to the number of months (s)he was working in NZ. This would stop the farms becoming a back door vehicle for immigration. In addition, depending on the proportion of ownership, the maximum amount the foreign owners can export unprocessed should not exceed their proportion of ownership of the farm.

The Crafar farms debate has raised a number of questions about who can and who cannot buy land in NZ. I think one primary guideline should be reciprocity. If that country allows us to buy up land, then we allow citizens of that country to buy up land. There may have to be some kind of "reasonable" amount but those things can be worked out.

Regards

I'm not sure how accurate it is but I understand Michael Fay and a consortium wanted to purchase the whole lot and would match the Chinese offer but Key had turned them down. They might have even offered more than the Chinese but don't quote me. Apparently there are also quite a number of farmers who would like to purchase individual blocks. Key obviously has an agenda (like always!!) and he just ignores what he doesn't want to know or hear. The man is a menace.

I agree Nellie and Peter G.. It wasn't a matter race until Key's spin doctors are trying to include it into the picture. With Key it comes down to one thing, money. Nellie, what have you heard about other farmers?

And another thought, Bogor. I feel the sale off the Crafar farms to the Chinese is definitely political - but on the part of this National Government. For reasons best known to them (probably something to do with a Free Trade Agreement) they want this sale to go ahead to the Chinese as they are ignoring legitimate offers from New Zealand citizens from what I understand. You can bet your bottom dollar though that if the position was reversed we wouldn't be allowed to buy any land in China but more particularly would not be allowed to buy a comparable lot of the huge acreage the Chinese are wanting to purchase here.