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National voters reject Crafar farm deal

08:45 Sun Mar 4 2012

AAP

Many lifelong National voters say they will never vote for the party again over its approval of the sale of the Crafar dairy farms to a Chinese company (Getty)

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National faces a backlash from heartland supporters over the sale of the Crafar dairy farms to a Chinese buyer, with many vowing they will never vote for the party again.

Government ministers approved the sale of the 16 North Island farms to Milk New Zealand Holdings, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pengxin, in January.

Many National backers have written to Prime Minister John Key to express their distaste for the deal, with more than 100 emails or letters opposed to the sale, the Sunday Star Times reports.

"I personally feel that such sales are an act of treason and gross betrayal of trust and will not be voting National next election," one letter says.

Another reads: "As far as I am concerned the National Government is selling us down the river. I have been a National Party supporter for 45 years and my family before me. Never again.

"The agreement to sell the Crafar Farms to Asians when New Zealanders wanted to buy them is the final nail in the coffin for me."

Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that the farms were offered for sale individually in Asia, despite potential New Zealand buyers being told the farms could only be sold profitably in a bulk deal.

The advertisements, in the South China Morning Post and Singapore's Straits Times, were released to the Sunday Star Times by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) under the Official Information Act.

The ads described the farms as "one of the largest and most highly anticipated rural portfolios to ever come to the market in New Zealand".

"A significant opportunity to invest in New Zealand's rural and dairy sector. Farms are for sale individually or as a portfolio."

The Shanghai Pengxin deal - reportedly worth $210 million - remains on hold after a rival consortium, led by businessman Sir Michael Fay and offering $171.5m for the farms, went to the High Court to overturn the decision.

Justice Forrest Miller ruled that the ministers "materially overstated" the economic benefit of the transaction to the New Zealand economy and they must reconsider Milk New Zealand's application.

User comments

I didn't know English was traveling around asia looking for buyers. Looks like Winston Peters was right again. John Key said two lies... one was that he didn't want to see us as serfs in our own country and 2. Key said the lot had to be sold as a going concern but in Asia, Key was looking to sell the Crafar Farms in parcels. Key was setting us up. What do you expect from a Merrill Lynch derivative trader. Key destroys everything around him. Look at Ireland.

Of course people like myself who voted for National are now kicking ourselves at what is happening with this NZ land, but rubbing it in our faces by saying 'you get what you voted for' is not helping any of us. Within our own country we are have divided opinions on many things, benefits, jobs, etc etc. But it is situations like this where we should put our differences aside and all stand together in voicing our disgust about the sale of these farms to foreign investors. I am a 25 year old woman and I work my *** off 7 days a week on a dairy farm. It makes me doubt if I even want to have children of my own because I am extremely fearful of what their future will be in this country if these asset sales go ahead to the Chinese, or any other foreign country for that matter. This situation is getting to me so badly I am losing sleep over it. I am devastated that the country I love is being treated like a cheap piece of garbage that will be sold off to the highest bidder.

WOW! Why is everyone amazed at whats happening to NZ? No use crying about it now, all you people who voted National in or the ones who were to lazy to get off the *** and vote at all! The day that man steps down from his money making throne, will be the best day in every new zealanders life!

there is like other contries , hard working people who can work harder in new zealand and look after goverment, ( payinbg tax, gst, vs) why selling to people to rule this contry with they money!!!!!)

It appears that the farms operations were returning a % profit that many businessmen would be happy to have in this recession ,receivers have too much power that goes unchallenged and destroys hard working new zealanders lives and futures.Sir Micheal Faye has a proven track record of putting profit before the good of kiwis and if serious should match the bid that was on the table .

I am 63 years old and have always voted for National if this sale to overseas buyers, regardless of who they are, goes ahead at their inflated price my vote will go to another party. There are NZers waiting to buy these farms and have the money the likes of Cedric Allan will dance to any tune if they are paid enough money. Bill Rolston was a prime example.

Down with John Key!

Lick your own wounds National voters, as it was you who voted him in.

I just want to challenge the Govt or anyone if it can buy the land in China. Thanks. Cally

If I was a Chinese investor interested in capturing a bigger slice of the value generated by the NZ dairy industry - or simply locking NZ supply into China for food security reasons - investing at the processing level in NZ and sourcing from NZ farmers makes more sense than buying up farms. It's easier from a political and regulatory point of view. And it's happening already. Perhaps that should be the focus of public attention - although its much more difficult to tackle because of NZ's free trade commitments (which NZ also benefits from). Welcome to the Asian century.