Overseas investor ructions laid bare
Access agreements and financial donations have failed to satisfy some New Zealanders opposed to the sale of land to foreigners, documents newly released show.
In February 2017 Australian millionaire Keith Ross and his wife Alison received consent to buy a 2.4-hectare property on Nick Johnstone Drive, Waiheke Island, with views over the ferry terminal.
Part of the deal included a promise to pay the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society (Forest & Bird) $120,000 – but several members of its Waiheke committee were so incensed at ‘‘tainted’’ money that they resigned.
They took umbrage at Ross’s investment history in coalmining, notably a New South Wales company called Whitehaven Coal that was controversial for environmental reasons.
Ross was chief executive at Whitehaven Coal until 2008, and he has continued to pocket millions of dollars from the sale of mining royalties.
The internal dispute at Forest & Bird was traumatic and the people involved didn’t like talking about it.
The $120,000 over eight years was offered to the national Forest & Bird organisation but was eventually accepted by the Waiheke branch to fund works on the Atawhai-Whenua Reserve adjoining the Ross property.
The property is a luxury residence featuring a large house, bush, and undeveloped land.
The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) initially kept the price secret but after 12 months it was revealed that Ross, aged 85, paid $8 million.
Ross and his family intended to use the dwelling as a holiday home and told the OIO they would carry out an ecological development plan.
They also donated $70,000 over seven years to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service, which provides medical services to residents of Waiheke Island.
A more recent case that has caused lingering resentment was the sale of Crown pastoral lease Hunter Valley Station in Central Otago to American television personality Matt Lauer for a reported $13m.
After considerable public agitation the OIO posted an article on its website a few days ago saying a public-access agreement had been signed by the Department of Conservation and Lauer’s company, Orange Lakes (NZ).
But the South Island Combined Clubs Regional Access Group called the agreement a ‘‘disgraceful failure of the system’’. Joint co-ordinator Stewart Hydes said the public had ended up with ‘‘crumbs’’.
Conditions include a $35 fee charged by Hunter Valley Station for each vehicle to contribute to the maintenance of the private farm track.
Hydes said the golden opportunity was when Lauer applied to the OIO. ‘‘The perfect outcome would have been for the legal road to have been reinstated. As it is, the outcome for public access truly is abysmal.’’
Under the agreement, up to six four-wheel-drive vehicles a day may be granted access to the property’s farm track between December and April.
Mountain bike, foot and horse access will be available yearround, outside of a closure for lambing from October to the beginning of December.