Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More land sales to foreign interests predicted

Updated at 8:41 am on 31 January 2012

The Green Party says more and more land will be sold into foreign ownership, unless a blanket ban on land sales to overseas interests is introduced.

The Greens opposed the sale of the 16 Crafar farms to the Shanghai Pengxin conglomerate, which was approved by the Government last week.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman says the decision gives the green light to other potential Chinese buyers.

He says food-producing land with good access to water is becoming increasingly valuable, and it makes no sense to sell it to foreign interests.

Dr Norman says only New Zealand citizens and permanent residents should be allowed to own food-producing land here.

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