Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

Here are some facts and you can draw your own conclusions:

1. Land Information Minister Mark Mitchell says there is no “big buy-up” of New Zealand land by foreigners.
   
   
2. Last year foreign buyers bought up 465,863 hectares (that we know of), up from 79,897 hectares the previous year.
   
   
3. The National Party and its coalition partners voted down New Zealand First's Bill for a Registry of Foreign Ownership in New Zealand, so we would know for certain how much of New Zealand is under foreign ownership.
   
   
4. From Oravida's website (translated from Chinese): “Oravida natural artesian water is sourced from New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. Rich in silica, minerals and trace elements beneficial for health, our water is among the softest, purest and most drinkable anywhere in the world.”
   
   
5. Earlier this month The National Party received another $50,000 donation from Oravida's founder Deyi (Stone) Shi, after having previously given $30,000 to National, and Shi once donated $55,000 in a charity auction to play golf with former Prime Minister John Key.
   
   
6. This last weekend, the current National Party Prime Minister and his Environment Minister, Nick Smith describe charging foreign Companies who export New Zealand water for profit as “too hard” and “farcical” respectively.

What do you, as a New Zealander think? Is there any cause-and-effect coincidence between political donations and political facilitation? Do we care if foreign companies, people, and governments “buy up” our land and resources?

Do we need to know how much of our land and resources are owned by people who don't live here or have a stake in the continued prosperity of New Zealand and New Zealanders? Do we want a stake in our own land and resources, and any profits derived from them?