Pike River Coal receiver John Fisk says a potential overseas buyer of the mine was scared off in part because of perceived hostility to foreign investment.
Mr Fisk says this happened during the controversy over sale of the Crafar farms to Chinese interests.
The mine has been sold to Solid Energy for $7.5 million.
Mr Fisk says three foreign coal mining companies had expressed an interest in buying the mine, but pulled out for a variety of reasons.
He says one potential overseas buyer of the mine was scared off in part because of perceived hostility to foreign investment.
Mr Fisk says this happened during the controversy over sale of the Crafar farms to Chinese interests.
Pike River went into receivership after an explosion killed 29 men in 2010.
The Overseas Investment Office has confirmed potential foreign buyers of Pike River Coal did not get as far as making a formal application for consent to buy the mine.
NZ criticised for lack of openness
A right wing advisory group, the New Zealand Initiative, says New Zealand compares poorly with other countries in its openness to foreign investment.
Director Oliver Hartwich says a recent OECD report on countries' openness to foreign investment ranks New Zealand near the bottom, at 6th worst out of 55 countries.
Mr Hartwich says while most countries roll out the red carpet for overseas investors, New Zealand treats foreign investment as a problem.
