Listen Now: 
A far north iwi leader is welcoming an influx of Chinese investment into the region.
Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming has announced it is buying seven dairy farms south of Kaikohe from Merv and Cara Pinny for just over $42 million.
The deal has been criticised by former Far North mayor Wayne Brown, who says the Government should encourage Chinese and other investors to invest in added value processing rather than land.
But Haami Piripi from Te Runanga o Te Rarawa says Chinese are a culturally aware people who are happy to engage with Maori businesses.
"These lands were lost to us a century ago through deceit and shonky land deals and it's really how the country was lost to us. But what these people offer is an opportunity for us to develop services around them that will complement their investment," he says.
Mr Piripi says a big difference between the new wave of Chinese investment and the early colonists is they are bringing their own capital rather than ripping it from Maori resources.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
