New Zealand

The Overseas Investment Office has granted a consent for American businessman Sjerp William Ysselstein to buy 288 hectares of farmland in Marlborough’s Kenepuru Sounds to construct a feedlot.

Two men have been ordered to pay a combined $440,000 after illegally purchasing sensitive farmland and attempting to bypass New Zealand's overseas investment rules.

The investment arm of Ikea’s parent company says it does not want to be seen as a carbon trader, as it storms ahead with farmland purchases despite resistance from local communities.

One of Europe's top pension fund managers buys two New Zealand forestry plantations stretching over 45,000 ha, citing interest in long term development of carbon sequestration.

The investment arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns farms and orchards in 29 of 50 US states and 10 countries across the Americas, Europe and most recently Australasia.

The fund owns 17 kiwifruit orchards in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty and Northland.

New Zealand sheep farmers are fighting to stop the loss of pasture to fast-spreading pine plantations, which earn government subsidies to soak up carbon emissions.

A new report shows that sales of beef and sheep farms, particularly for carbon farming, are continuing “at an alarming rate”.

"These companies are in it for the short-term to make a lot of money from carbon credits then flick them before the plantations become a liability”

New Zealand has outlined new rules aimed at slowing the rate at which farmland is being converted into forestry for carbon credits.

Hawke’s Bay apple orchards have been changing hands amid a shake-up to the industry, with the latest significant sale featuring a Dutch newcomer buying a 62-hectare Ongaonga block.

UK local government pension schemes-backed Stafford Carbon Offsets Opportunities Fund has invested $60m to acquire degraded pastureland in south-western Brazil and made a $12m investment in three properties totalling 1,914ha in New Zealand.