Applicant
Ponga Silva Limited
Case number(s)
202300882
Decision date
Type
Decision
DecisionConsent granted
Section 12(1)(a) Overseas Investment Act 2005
Decision makerToitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand
Decision date29 February 2024
Pathway(s)Sensitive land - Special forestry test (one-off)
InvestmentAcquisition of Opanake Forest (123.846 ha), Waitapu Forest (138.726 ha), Mititai/Hillcrest Forest (293.027 ha) and Mangatu Forest (156.3882 ha) in Northland for forestry activities
Consideration$14,100,000
ApplicantPonga Silva Limited
Germany 45%
United Kingdom 14%
France 7%
United States of America 19%
Various 15%
Vendor

Diamond Farm 3 Limited (Opanake Forest)
New Zealand 100%

Diamond Farm Trading Limited (Waitapu, Mititai/Hillcrest and Mangatu Forests)
New Zealand 100%

Background

The Applicant is a New Zealand incorporated company that is a repeat forestry investor having been granted consent in several previous applications under the special forestry test.

The land to be acquired is approximately 711.9872 ha currently used for forestry purposes. The total productive area of the land is approximately 563.1872 ha. 

The Opanake Forest is planted almost exclusively with Pinus radiata. The Waitapu Forest is planted exclusively with Pinus radiata. The Mititai/Hillcrest Forest is planted with Populus nigra and Pinus radiata. The Mangatu Forest is planted exclusively with Pinus radiata.

The Applicant plans to continue using the land for forestry.
Consent was granted as the Applicant has met the investor test criterion and the special forestry test criteria.

More informationSarah Blackmore,
Level 30, Vero Centre,
48 Shortland Street
Auckland 1010