Forensics examine Crafar's printer

Allan Crafar Photo / Herald on Sunday

Allan Crafar has won a temporary reprieve from a legal challenge to kick him off his farm, while forensics examine the authenticity of tenancy agreements he handed over to the courts.

The former head of New Zealand's biggest private dairy operation is fighting to stay on his Reporoa property after his empire went into receivership in October last year.

Receivers KordaMentha are trying to get a court order to remove Crafar from the property, after he rejected an offer for six months' free rent if he left the farm on April 9.

Today in the Rotorua High Court the judge presiding over the case ordered Crafar to hand over the printer that produced the lease documents so their veracity could be tested by the police document examination section.

The case has been adjourned until September 20.

Mark Sandelin, who is representing KordaMentha, said the "obviously the veracity of the leases is an issue before the court".

The court had earlier ordered the Crafar family to hand over their original tenancy agreement of their home, so it could be analysed by the police document examination section.

Crafar, who is representing himself in court, said he was confident the receivers did not have a "leg to stand on" in their bid to kick him off his farm.

They were simply grasping at straws, he said.

"KordaMentha now want to check out my printer. They do not buy the forensic reports into the tenancy agreements."

"They should be sacked."

KordaMentha has a conditional sale agreement with Natural Dairy to purchase the Crafar farms. The sale is subject to OIO approval and the absence of a better offer.

Meanwhile Crafar has expressed disappointment at the need for a nationwide campaign to halt the sales of New Zealand farms to foreigners.

Remuera property developer John McKearney wants public support to convince the Govenrment to stop the sales until the country has had a robust public debate.

"Get rid of the receivers and give the farms back to fourth, fifth and sixth generation New Zealanders then you wouldn't need a campaign," Crafar said.

Crafar said he presented Rabobank with documents about two weeks ago, which more than took care of his debt, but said he had heard nothing back.

Natural Dairy said it welcomed debate on the value of its proposed investment in this country's dairy industry, but said it should be based on facts, not emotion.

"The group proposes what is effectively a closed door policy to any overseas investor who wants to invest in New Zealand farming. This would spell disaster for the economy, reduce export earnings, cost jobs and lead to the pastoral industry stagnating," the company said in a statement.

In the case of Natural Dairy's plans to purchase the 16 Crafar farms, if the Save the Farms proposed "moratorium" prevented it occurring, New Zealand would miss out on substantial benefits, Natural Dairy said.