28 February 2007

Landcorp comment

The government is to review its policy around the land sales processes undertaken by state owned Landcorp with the aim of ensuring that land with significant, non-commercial values is properly protected, State Owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

"The government recognises that there are gaps that need to be addressed to ensure that land is protected that has significant value to the country that may not be reflected in its commercial worth; for instance, land that has conservation or heritage values.

"While this policy is being reviewed over the next month, Landcorp has put on hold its proposed sale of Whenuakite Station on the Coromandel Peninsula, and Rangiputa in Northland.

"This policy review is likely to lead to a new process where the sensitivity and significance of the land is considered before any sales process begins.

"The government will also be conducting a more general review of the land that was allocated to Landcorp when the State Owned Enterprise was set up in 1987," Trevor Mallard said.

ENDS

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