January to December 2001

Overseas Investment Commission
Decisions

Commentary and Index prepared by CAFCA 

Contents

January 2001 decisions

Government changes its mind, allows sale of half of Sealords to Nissui of Japan

Visy Packaging of Australia buys packaging business from Southcorp

Land for forestry

Tasman Agriculture buys another farm in Southland

Woollastons in 20/80 vineyard interest with U.S. millionaire Glenn Schaeffer

Other rural land sales

February 2001 decisions

Allied Domecq of the U.K. gets approval to acquire 100% of Montana but…

NRMA of Australia buys State Insurance from Norwich/CGNU of the U.K.

Swift energy buys leasehold land for Rimu Prospect petroleum production

Land for forestry

Fishing lodge near Queenstown from Australian to U.S. owners

Other rural land sales

March 2001 decisions

Carter Holt buys Kawerau Pulp Mill from Norske Skogindustrier

Rubicon buys Challenge Petroleum and Trees and Technology from Fletchers

Sky City buys Force Corporation

QBE Insurance buys HIH’s New Zealand operation

Juken Nissho buys more land for its Kaitaia mills

Highland Timber, U.K., buys further 1,182 hectares in Waikato and Waitomo

Other land for forestry

Woollastons Estates buy more land in Nelson

Other land for viticulture

More land for Martha Mine, Waihi

More land for Earnscleigh Gold Project, Otago

U.K. resident buys land to expand Glentui Camp, Canterbury

April 2001 decisions

Fosters Brewing buys Matua wines group

SK Foods International of the U.S.A. takes control of Cedenco Foods

Approval for SEA Holdings (Hong Kong) to buy remainder of Trans Tasman

Canterbury Meat Packers Ltd to establish meat works in Greatford, Manawatu…

… and Eddie Tonks and Rangatira sell out of ANZCO Foods

P & O buys Eskimo’s coldstore business

Korean company buys 14 hectares for sawmill at Ruakaka, Northland

Southland Plantation of Japan buys more land for eucalypts

U.K. interests buy Aroha Hills, Manawatu, for deer farming

Hong Kong investor buys two Hastings properties for vineyards

Australian lease-back Delegat’s of viticultural assets in Hawkes Bay

McCain Foods of Canada buys Hastings land to expand processing plant

German buys second Waitomo station

Other rural land sales

May 2001 decisions

One application declined

PDL sold to Schneider Electric Industries of France

Westfield buys AXA out of Manukau City Centre

Macquarie buys The Gate, Penrose, for industrial complex

McCain buys Heinz-Wattie’s Feilding potato and vegetable processing business

Carter Holt buys back a lifestyle property at Waipu, Northland

Land for forestry

Land for wine

U.S. sheep farmer with fetish for new breeds buys another 220 ha near Waitomo

Other rural land sales

June 2001 decisions

One refusal

Sumitomo’s Nelson Pine Industries Ltd buys Mataura MDF plant from Rayonier

Siemens of Germany buys maintenance division of UnitedNetworks

Most details of Lord of the Rings film companies remain suppressed

Austrian buys into Remarkables Park resort development in Queenstown

Land for forestry

Land for wine

Mount Creighton Station owners buy neighbouring 33,000 ha. Branches Station

Other rural land sales

July 2001 decisions

On Energy gets approval to acquire Genesis’ retail electricity meters

Ford sells its Wiri alloy wheels manufacturing business

British Telecom fails to sell out of Clear Communications

Bernard Matthews fails in attempt to take over Richmond

The Warehouse in joint venture with Westpac to run The Warehouse Card

Hikurangi Forest Farms of Malaysia buys 845 hectares in two Gisborne stations

Land for forestry

Land for wine

Mark Blakes’ family sells him “Poronui Ranch”, Taupo

Other rural land sales

August 2001 decisions

Westfield buys lease of carparks at Manukau City Centre from Fletcher Property

CDL Land buys more land for subdivision in Browns Bay, Auckland

Black family get permission to buy Donaghys’ share of Craig Pine Timber

Belgian-owned company buys 50% share in Roa Mine

Soper Group of U.S.A. buys 1,278 ha. in Hokonui, Southland, wants 10,000 ha.

Other land for forestry

Sacred Hill gains Hong Kong shareholding and land in Marlborough

Other land for wine

Other rural land sales

September 2001 decisions

Baycorp becomes Australian company after merger with Data Advantage

Canterbury Meat Packers of Japan take over Phoenix Meat Company

Banking consortium and Repco management buy Repco NZ’s business

McCain Foods of Canada takes assets of Feilding Potato Storage Ltd

Jossco of Australia re-leases Auckland’s only specialised grain storage facility

Bridgestone/Firestone has new Auckland premises built by AMP for lease back

Land for forestry

Land for wine

Otamatapaio Station owners buy Holbrook, Rollesby and Glenrock Stations

Part of Glenmore Station, Southland, sold to U.S. and Canadian investors

U.K. company buys Pauatahanui land to prevent Anglicans subdividing

Other rural land sales

October 2001 decisions

Assa Abloy takes over Interlock group

Canterbury Waste Services acquires more land for regional landfill

Shell Todd buys land as part of oil and gas exploration south of Kapuni

Palmerston North golf course to Uruguay company

Land for forestry

Land for wine

Telecom Mobile buys land on Kaikoura Island, Hauraki Gulf, for cell site

Other rural land sales

November 2001 decisions

TelstraSaturn takes over Clear

O’Reilly moves ownership of Wilson and Horton to APN, Australia

AXA takes over Sterling Grace

Financial consortium buys Pacific Brands from Pacific Dunlop

Takapuna Golf Course sold to another Korean when owner leaves country

Land for forestry

Land for wine

U.S. investors to develop fishing lodge and tourism on Ruakituri River, Gisborne

Other rural land sales

December 2001 decisions

Swift Energy (U.S.A.) buys Southern Petroleum and TAWN gas fields from Shell

Soper Group of U.S.A. buys further 1,189 ha. at Clutha, Otago

Other land for forestry

Land for wine

Part of Remarkable Station, Queenstown, sold for “world class golfing resort”

U.S. investors buy land near Mohaka River for forestry and fishing lodge

Other rural land sales

 

Numbers of deleted or released decisions before appeal

 

Jan 
2001

Feb 
2001

Mar 
2001

Apr 
2001

May 
2001

June 
2001

July 
2001

Aug 
2001

Sept 
2001

Oct 
2001

Nov 
2001

Dec 
2001

Total 2001

Deletions

5

2

4

6

3

9

4

3

0

3

1

2

42

Applications refused

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Decisions released

13

9

26

26

23

27

23

26

17

20

25

15

250

 

Compiled by:

Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa,
P. O. Box 2258 
Christchurch.