| Decision | Consent granted Section 12(1)(a) Overseas Investment Act 2005 |
|---|---|
| Decision maker | Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand |
| Decision date | 18 August 2025 |
| Pathway | Sensitive land - Special forestry (one-off) |
| Investment | Acquisition of a freehold interest in approximately 319.1 hectares of land located at Waingaro Road, Waingaro and approximately 147.7 hectares of land located at Takiri Road, Āria. |
| Asset Value | Withheld under s9(2)(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982 |
| Applicant | Ponga Silva Limited Germany 49% United States of America 20% United Kingdom 11% France 6% Various 14% |
| Vendors | W A & L M Mayall Limited New Zealand 100% W A & L M Mayall Limited and Hatwell Properties Limited (in partnership) New Zealand 100% |
| Background | The Applicant is a New Zealand incorporated company that is a repeat forestry investor, having been previously granted consent under the special forestry test. The Applicant is ultimately wholly owned by Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft (Munich Re) a German multinational insurance company listed on all German Stock Exchanges. The land to be acquired comprises collectively of approximately 466 hectares of freehold land. The total productive area of the land is approximately 412 hectares with mostly Pinus radiata and a small amount of macrocarpa. The Applicant plans to continue using the land for production forestry with harvest planned in 22–34 years. Consent was granted as the Applicant has met the investor test criterion and the special forestry test criteria. |
| More information | Sarah Blackmore Russell McVeagh (Auckland) PO Box 8 Auckland 1140 |