Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ had no choice on farm deal - Kelsey

Updated at 11:26 am on 30 January 2012

Anti-free trade campaigner says New Zealand had no choice but to approve the application by Shanghai Pengxin to purchase the Crafar farms.

The Government has approved the Chinese company's bid for the 16 properties, although it is still up to the receivers and the purchasers to finalise the deal.

Professor Jane Kelsey of Auckland University says New Zealand's free trade deal with China means the Government could have been sued if it had turned down the application.

She says the same principle could apply to other applications.

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