Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7335. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement made five years ago that “Looking four five ten years into the future I’d hate to see New Zealanders as tenants in their own country”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes. Although the Government welcomes investment that creates jobs and growth in New Zealand we do not want to see excessive rural land sold to overseas buyers. That is why we added additional factors to the Overseas Investment Office consent process which tightened up on rural land sales by one increasing New Zealand participation; two protecting New Zealand’s economic interests; and three limiting vertical integration. As a consequence of the Government’s approach the net amount of rural land approved for sale to foreign buyers is half as much as it was under Labour.Andrew Little: Is he aware that his Government has approved the sale of 270000 hectares of non-residential land or 140 hectares a day since he said he did not want New Zealanders to be tenants in their own land—which is at a faster rate than before he made that statement?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am certainly aware that there is a process that parties have to go through. As I said in answer to the primary question if one looks at the net approval of land approved for sale to foreign buyers it is half that of the previous Labour Government.Andrew Little: In light of that answer can he confirm that the Labour Party has not been in Government and there has been a different Prime Minister for the last 7 years? Just when will he start taking responsibility for his own actions?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Mercifully for the country I can confirm both those things. Secondly I can certainly confirm that we do have policies when it comes to overseas buyers being able to buy a property in New Zealand but one of them is not whether their surname is Cheng or Xing or another Chinese name.Andrew Little: Has his Government’s decision to approve the sale of 270000 hectares—five times the size of urban Auckland—made more New Zealanders tenants in their own land—yes or no?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No what it has done is either created jobs and opportunities or saved jobs and opened up international markets—all the very reasons why the Labour Government approved it at twice the rate of the National Government.Andrew Little: What specific evidence does he have that these land sales have created jobs in light of the fact that the Overseas Investment Office has failed to collect any evidence of job creation?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Many of the applications give an indication of jobs but I think it is plain for anyone to see actually. If they wanted to go along to the farms previously owned by Mr Crafar and have a look and see whether Shanghai Pengxin has actually created additional jobs the answer is yes. It is also true that when Yili and Yashili created their dairy plants in New Zealand on rural land that too has been creating jobs. This is an open vibrant successful economy not something that is closed to the world as the Labour Party would want.Andrew Little: Is it not true that no matter where these offshore land buyers come from he is selling out New Zealanders by selling off our land?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well here is a suggestion. If he really really believes that he should look to his left at David Parker who signed off on the largest land sale in the history of New Zealand from what I can see and say: “You’re fired.” But then again he cannot actually do that because he has sacked him already. And by the way be careful because to your left and right behind you—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Supplementary question Andrew Little. [Interruption] Order! I have called Andrew Little for a supplementary question.Andrew Little: When will he stand up for New Zealanders’ rights not to be tenants in their own land?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Every single day I have been Prime Minister I have stood up for New Zealand. If the member wants me to give eight times that I have stood up for New Zealanders I am happy to recite them but then again I am no No. 8 and neither is Andrew Little compared with Kieran Read. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Can I remind members that I am on my feet. Thank you.