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WELLINGTON--The sale of a bankrupt dairy farm group to a Chinesefirm has sparked fears of a foreign land grab in New Zealand, aswell as revealing what critics label a dark side of thenational psyche. After a review process lasting more than 12 months, the governmentlast month approved the sale of the 16-property Crafar Farms groupto China's Shanghai Pengxin in a deal reportedly worth NZ$210million (US$170 million). On the face of it, the sale was a minor component of the burgeoningNZ$10 billion a year trade relationship between China and NewZealand, which in 2008 became the first developed nation to sign afree trade agreement with Beijing. But the approval sparked intense controversy in the farm-reliantcountry, the world biggest exporter of dairy products, with PrimeMinister John Key's conservative government accused of selling outto foreign interests. The main opposition Labour Party labeled the decision a massivekick in the guts for New Zealand farmers, while Winston Peters ofthe populist New Zealand First Party branded it economicbetrayal. The whole sales process has been a shonky, jack-up job betweenPrime Minister John Key, his ministers, and the communistgovernment of China, Peters said. Opinion polls have showed overwhelming public opposition to thedeal, which the Greens say is part of a land grab by foreigninvestors intent on snapping up productive farmland to shore upsecurity of their own food supplies. Food producing farmland with access to water is an increasinglyvaluable resource in a finite world with growing population anddeclining water resources, Greens co-leader Russel Norman said. Realizing this, the Chinese government has embarked upon astrategy encouraging Chinese companies to purchase farmlandthroughout the world, he added, saying it would see profitsgenerated in New Zealand going offshore. Key, who has previously expressed concern about New Zealandersbecoming tenants in their own land, has supported the sale,saying New Zealand cannot turn down investors simply because theyare Chinese. He said that all foreign investors, regardless of where they camefrom, had to be treated equally under the law. So if this deal is a yes for an Australian buyer or a yes for anAmerican buyer then it should be a yes for a Chinese buyer, hesaid. In the end I think it is a pretty good deal for all parties. Key said there was no evidence the Crafar sale would open the wayfor a flood of rural sales to foreign groups, arguing less than twopercent of New Zealand farmland was owned by foreigners, mostlyfrom Europe or America. I don't think that's actually happening at this point, it's morea perception than a reality, he said. With the government hoping to double two-way trade with China toNZ$20 billion by 2015, the foreign affairs ministry warned duringthe Crafar consultation process that rejecting the deal could haveserious implications. Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson has describedopposition to the sale as bordering on racism, while the NewZealand Institute of Economic Research attributes the backlash toxenophobia and party politics. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Turbocharger Rotor , Gas Inlet Casing for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Turbocharger Nozzle Ring.
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