Facts on Foreign Farm Sales

Labour has just said:

Why no answer on Crafar farms before election?

National is concealing its intention to sell off our farmland to foreign buyers well under the radar before the election, says Labour’s Economic Development and Associate Finance spokesperson David Parker.

“National is not just about selling our power companies, inevitably into foreign ownership,” David Parker said.

“It’s about selling productive farmland overseas as well.”

More hypocrisy in the hope that the media will not do any fact checking. Some facts:

1. Labour approved sales of more than 650,000 hectares of land to foreign owners when in Government. Yes 650,000 hectares – that is the equivalent of 75 Crafar farms. That work out to the Crafar farms every month. Yes, every month.
2. For the first 20 months of National (seeking latest data), the total amount of land sales to foreigners was 31,000 hectares. That is 1/4 the rate Labour approved sales at. Under 25%.
3. The National-led Government has already turned down one offer from foreign interests for the farms
4. The OIO office is independent from the Executive and Ministers can not direct them to delay a recommendation.

So just remember these facts. The last Labour Government (and every member of the current Labour front bench was a Minister in it) approved the sale of the equivalent of the Crafar Farms every single month for nine years. Under National the rate of approvals has fallen to under 25% that of Labour.