Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

OIO releases Motukawaiti (Step) Island findings

OIO releases Motukawaiti (Step) Island findings

The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) today announced that it is not able to take action over the purchase of Motukawaiti Island – also known as Step Island – by New Zealand company St Morris NZ Limited.

“While the investigation found evidence pointing to a possible breach of the Overseas Investment Act, there is not enough to prove this beyond reasonable doubt,” OIO Manager Annelies McClure says.

“This means we cannot meet the threshold in the Solicitor-General’s Prosecution Guidelines and, so, we cannot take action.”

The OIO began its investigation after learning that St Morris had used funds borrowed from an overseas person – Chinese businessman Jun Zhang – to buy the island.

The investigation was to determine whether St Morris was a front for Mr Zhang – to get around the need for consent – or whether Mr Zhang was just a lender.

It initially involved examining the purchase, the loan from Mr Zhang to St Morris, and a complex finder’s fee transaction – however it also turned up a number of other property transactions.

“The OIO had to investigate these other transactions to see what effect – if any – they had on the island’s purchase and look into the people involved, some of whom are no longer in New Zealand.

“After weighing up all the evidence, our final conclusion is that there is not enough to prosecute for a breach of the Act in this case,” Ms McClure says.
View the Report on the LINZ website.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Timeline

DateEvent
Feb-2010First enquiry on behalf of Mr Zhang about investing in New Zealand
Apr-2010Mr Zhang visits New Zealand
Jul-2010Wenning Han (owner of St Morris) signs Sale and purchase agreements for Step Island
Aug-2010Purchase of Step Island settled
Nov-2010OIO begins investigation
Mar-2013St Morris/Mr Han defaults on loans to Mr Zhang
Aug-2013Island transferred to Mr Zhang in settlement of loan obligations (no consent required as Mr Zhang is no longer an overseas person)
Mar-Oct-2014OIO interviews key individuals, including Mr Han and Mr Zhang
Jul-2014Final evidence received
2015Decision made not to take action

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.