20 Oct 2011

Labour wants to limit overseas investment in farmland

8:54 pm on 20 October 2011

Limiting overseas investment in farmland is one of the key aspects of the Labour Party's agricultural election policy.

Leader Phil Goff says over the past 30 years, nearly 160,000 hectares of agriculture land has been sold to overseas investors.

Mr Goff says New Zealand cannot afford to lose control of its best income-producing assets by selling off farmland to overseas investors.

He believes no overseas person should have the right to buy land in New Zealand.

Mr Goff says if elected as government on 26 November, Labour would reverse the current approach so overseas buyers of farm or forestry would have to prove they offer additional value to the country.