Key leaves options open on Syria

A British businessman has been granted consent to purchase Ben Avon Station in the Ahuriri Valley.

The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has approved the purchase of the station, previously owned by high country identity Jim Morris and his wife Mary Ann.

The property was bought by Singapore-based businessman Richard Magides, who also owns the Parora Bay Winery in Russell, Northland.

OIO documents suggest the sale price of the 2700-hectare freehold area of the Ahuriri Valley station could be about $6.5 million. The full sale agreement has yet to be finalised. OIO manager Annelies McClure said the applicant had about a year to report on the nature of the final sale agreement.

The Essex University-educated Mr Magides has managed several hedgefund businesses, particularly ones specialising in the Asian markets. He was unavailable to comment.

Mr Morris said he was pleased with progress so far.

‘‘The new owner understands the importance of the environment. He wants to maintain its character. This isn’t going to be turned into a massive dairy conversion. I understand what he’s planned is very much in the spirit of all the conservation work our family have done,’’ he said.

It is understood Ben Avon Station would continue to be a sheep and beef station, but Mr Magides would also lodge consents to develop a ‘‘luxury wilderness lodge’’, as well as offer guided hunting, fishing, horse riding and snow sports opportunities.

‘‘If this goes ahead, it could be a really exciting addition for the district,’’ Mr Morris said.

‘‘It will bring a lot of visitors and jobs to the area, and complement the other recreational activities in the region.’’

Ben Avon Station completed the tenure review process nearly a decade ago, with 4800ha transferred to the Crown to become public conservation land. The rest was placed into freehold, which Mr Morris has run as a sheep and beef farm, as well as operating a high country cottage for visitors to the area.

The OIO consented to Ben Avon Station’s sale because it would create jobs, increase export receipts, and provide commercial recreational opportunities.

Mr Morris will help oversee the transition of the property over the next few years, particularly as the new owners go through the consenting process and build the new accommodation. ‘‘We will still be living here for a while yet.’’ A decision to intervene in Syria should be left to the United Nations, but military intervention with no UN mandate could be justified on moral grounds, Prime Minister John Key says.

He is not ruling out sending in New Zealand troops if a UN move is vetoed by Russia.

New Zealand troops could then join United States or British-led military action against the Syrian regime. However, no request for New Zealand to take part has yet been made, he said.

World leaders are moving closer to a military response in the war-torn country after a chemical weapons attack left more than 350 dead last week.

Yesterday Mr Key slammed the use of chemical weapons as ‘‘abhorrent’’.

‘‘Frankly it’s a disgrace and it’s a very serious matter.

‘‘We’re in the most fragile part of the world with a regime that’s under enormous pressure and this is a very dangerous situation for people.’’

Mr Key said New Zealand was being briefed by partners around the world. He spoke to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon yesterday about the crisis.

‘‘He left me under no illusions about the seriousness and the gravity of the situation of what’s taken place in Syria.’’

The pair had spoken about the options available and Mr Key reiterated that he believed the UN was the right vehicle for any intervention.

However, he acknowledged there were challenges, with Russia standing in the way of a UN mandate. New Zealand sup- ported Britain’s plan to take a resolution back to the UN Security Council, saying it was the ‘‘right thing to do’’.

Unanimous support was not likely and world leaders were looking at what would happen next.

Any decision to get involved would be debated by Parliament.

Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman, Phil Goff, said Mr Key had an obligation to share details of briefings he had with representatives of other countries with Parliament and the public.