Two more National donors
December 8th, 2011 at 1:00 pm by David FarrarNZ Herald reports:
Chinese New Zealand businesses, including one formerly owned by the businessman spearheading Shanghai Pengxin’s bid for the Crafar dairy farms, have boosted the National Party’s coffers by more than $100,000 in recent days.
Recent filings to the Electoral Commission show National received $50,000 on November 22 from Citi Financial Group, a Queen St foreign exchange and financial planning firm owned by Yan Yang and Qiang Wei.
The same day, the party got a $1600 donation from Oravida NZ, which also gave $55,000 on November 30.
Oravida’s directors are Jing Huang, Julia Jiyan Xu and wealthy but reclusive businessman Deyi Shi.
In September last year when it was called Kiwi Dairy, Oravida was bought from Terry Lee, a businessman associated with Shanghai Pengxin, which has applied for Overseas Investment Office approval to buy the Crafar farms.
It is good the disclosure regime is working. Transparency is important and media should report large donations
Turning to the Oravida donation, the key word is former owner. Terry Lee has not owned the company for 14 months, and the new owners have nothing to do with the Crafar farms bid as far as I know. Some people get very excited about former owners, assuming it means they are still in a position of influence with their former company, and/or wanting to advantage them. The prime example of this is how some go on about Steven Joyce being a former owner of the radio stations now owned by Mediaworks. What many do not realise is it was a hostile takeover, and shall we say no love lost there between the former and current owner.
So as far as I know there is no actual link to the Crafar farm bid. Ironically if someone associated with the bid for the Crafar farms did donate a large amount to National, my belief is that it would actually harm their chances as even if the OIO recommended approval, Ministers would be very wary of making a decision that could be perceived as influenced by the donation.
Incidentally what is a Chinese New Zealand business? Both businesses are New Zealand businesses. Oravida has three directors – two of whom live in NZ and one in New York. The ultimate shareholders all appear to be based in New Zealand also. CFG director and shareholders all appear to be New Zealanders also.
There is a difference between a business owned by Chinese living in China and Chinese living in New Zealand. Chinese living in China are foreigners. Chinese living (permanently) in New Zealand are Kiwis.
Related posts:
- Who is the buyer and the seller?
- Air NZ and the “national interest”
- Some sense on Crafars
- Winston’s dilemma
December 8th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Hear hear on your final paragraph, DPF, hear hear!
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Agree with you whole-heartedly that there is a difference between a Kiwi-Chinese business and a Kiwi business that happens to be owned by Kiwi’s who are ethnically Chinese. I think often the reason it is phrased as it has been is to make these things seem more sinister. The ASIA:NZ Foundation does an annual survey on Kiwi’s views of Asia and Asians and it has been heartening to see a gradual increase in trust towards China, but there is still a demographic to play to in order to make them fearful of “others”.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
DPF: Chinese living in China are foreigners. Chinese living (permanently) in New Zealand are Kiwis.
Very well said. Let’s stop with this creation of second-class citizens.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
But what will the Herald do if it can’t break people up into collectivist tribes?
Also shows the breaking down of parliament into demographics as a pointless exercise. You can’t have it both ways.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Herald makes beeline for Winston to get the xenophobic point of view
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Well said.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
had to laugh the other day – talking to a (sort of) colleague – very capable lady of asian extraction – more kiwi than me as she was born here and I wasn’t – has more of a kiwi accent than I do – I still have a northern english twang – however, she gets the double barrelled hit of mysogyny and racism. It was over a few drinks at a Xmas ‘do’ and made me remember how having a northern accent in the UK made one stupid or a bludger or ….. in most people’s eyes. I don’t miss it but managed to turn it in to a benefit as was invariably under estimated. Nice to be here.
Despite what others might think NZ is less racist or class oriented than other countries I have lived in but it does have its pockets of hypocrisy in these areas.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Waiting for grumpyoldhori to re-arrange his grass skirt and make comment about them not being kiwis and only temporary visitors.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
If they buy the farms and then poison the local rivers, mistreat the animals, employ illegal immigrants whom they pay $2 per hour, and poison customers in foreign parts (daming the reputation of NZ) I am sure we will see a few things resulting when the you-know-what hits the fan -
1. They conveniently will be unable to speak or understand English
Vote:2. They will all be residing safely in China
3. NZ will be told ‘tough titty’ by our ‘friends’ in China
4. Anyone who points out “I told you so” will be accused of racism
5. The National party donation will be the lead story for weeks
6. Winston will be polling in the mid 20s
December 8th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
That’s a big if James. Is there a reason that you think these NZ citizens are more likely to commit crimes than other NZ citizens?
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
More power to the Kiwi Chinese, unlike a proportion of, the world owes us a living, drop kicks that claim NZ heritage, they know that hard work and a right leaning government is the only way forward. Don’t worry James Winny will save you.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
As long as the new, New Zealand citizens don’t rape the undersize Paua’s/Crays like the old New Zealand citizens do and quote cultural shit while they are at it I can’t see a problem.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
“There is a difference between a business owned by Chinese living in China and Chinese living in New Zealand. Chinese living in China are foreigners. Chinese living (permanently) in New Zealand are Kiwis.”
………
Does this mean all our rapidly multiplying Chinese tour bus drivers are kiwis (just change the file association)?
Vote:As far as I’m concerned this is New Zealand and the other place is China. People living in Queenstown and Rotorua will know what I mean!
Shame on National: the Property Councils government.
December 8th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Could you explain that HJ? There is a very strong chinese heritage in Central. Not many around now but they were pretty thick on the ground in the 1800s during the gold rushes.
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
“Chinese economy we all know about…
Chinese government says it’s time to grow offshore…..
Let’s take a good selection of New Zealands “products” over….
“We’re all New Zealanders, we all love the country so I think it’s healthy for us to have the debate and make the right decisions for our country…. but hey!…. young people coming through see it as “our planet” rather than “our country”
http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2385074/mnr-20100824-0842-More_than_800-million_dollars_worth_of_property_on_display-m048.asx
………….
In its report , the SWG theorises that if net immigration flows were held at 1980- levels, the country’s net foreign liabilities could be 20% lower than its current rate of 85% debt to GDP. See the full report here.
“This is a critical difference in terms of vulnerability and growth and arises because new residents require new capital stock immediately, which must be paid for…increasing the need for foreign borrowing.”
The report goes on to blame higher levels of migration in the past two decades for pushing up house prices.
New Zealand’s change in immigration policy dates back to the early 1990s when the gap in productivity with other nations became pronounced between the years 1970 and 1990. Higher immigration was intended to fix the problem.
In its report, the SWG claims the move backfired.
“The policy choice that increased immigration, given the number of employers increasingly unable to pay First-World wages to the existing population and all the capital requirements that increasing populations involve – looks likely to have worked almost directly against the adjustment New Zealand needed to make and it might have been better off with a lower rate of net immigration.”
http://www.interest.co.nz/kiwisaver/52140/migration-policy-linked-inflated-housing-prices-government-spending-and-low-savings
Vote:December 8th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Nookin (1,451) Says:
December 8th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Could you explain that HJ? There is a very strong chinese heritage in Central. Not many around now but they were pretty thick on the ground in the 1800s during the gold rushes.
………..
The Chinese were invited over by the businessmen of Otago when the European miners took off to the West Coast leaving the shops vacant.
We have now a growing heritage in the tourist industry where native speakers are gaining residency to serve the growing clientel from mainland China as driver guides. If you’re in Rotorua or Queenstown take a peak. Don’t forget to count vans and buses. Terms of employment are heavily dependent on the black economy (it is rumored).
Vote:December 10th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Possessing 16 subsidiary companies with total assets up to over 10 billion RMB, the group contributes annually to the natioanl taxes of 500, 000,000 RMB.
Its overseas investor — ASIA PACIFIC GROUP (SINGAPORE) CO., LTD. is an international group specializing in China’s domestic and overseas investment business. In 2008 NDG has expanded its business into New Zealand Southern Hemisphere, where 2 sub-ordinate companies were incorporated to manage luxury hotel project in Auckland CBD and real estate development in Auckland rural area.
Vote:http://www.ndgchina.com/en/company/index.asp?id=11&classid=6