The government must take responsibility for another lapse of judgement by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO), says the Labour Party.
David Cunliffe Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Labour says the office approved Montagu Investment Holding's purchase of Radius Properties last year, knowing the majority owner had been investigated by American financial regulators and banned from trading.
The OIO said it investigated thoroughly before consent was granted.
Earlier this month the agency apologised for approving the sale of Taranaki's Onetai Station to two Argentinian brothers, who had been found criminally responsible for chemical dumping.
A government review is being carried out of the agency's good character test.
But Labour's land information spokesperson, David Cunliffe, said the government's oversight of foreign investment was practically non-existent, casting doubt on OIO decisions.
"And the time has really come now for the minister to take responsibility for her department being chronically underfunded. Frankly, it's hard to blame the officials when the Beehive has been responsible for this chronic underfunding of what has been a once-over-lightly approach."
