Northland companies need to leave prejudice against foreign investors out of their business and accept the emerging influence of Chinese investors and middle income tourists over the next 25 years, a former Prime Minister says.
Dame Jenny Shipley, now living in Russell, said Northlanders could lease land to foreign investors instead of selling it, following the agreement earlier this month by China's Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming to buy Pinny Farms - 10 Far North properties totalling 3600ha - for about $42.7 million.
The application is still being processed by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).
In March, the OIO also approved the sale of the 2.5ha Whatuwhiwhi Holiday Park for $3.8 million to the Chinese company Carrington Holiday Park Jade.
It is part of the expansion of the adjoining Peppers Carrington Resort, a 1000ha five-star resort on the Karikari Peninsula bought by Chinese real-estate giant Shanghai CRED from US businessman Paul Kelly for $28.7 million in 2013. The resort is to be marketed to wealthy Chinese tourists.