Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07WELLINGTON444, 2007 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES - NEW ZEALAND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07WELLINGTON444.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07WELLINGTON444 2007-06-15 06:14 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Wellington
VZCZCXRO6051
PP RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0444/01 1660614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150614Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4359
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4864
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 1346
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 0143
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000444 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EAP/ANP, EB/IFD/OIA, L/CID, PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC EINV KIDE PGOV OPIC NZ
SUBJECT: 2007 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES - NEW ZEALAND 
SUBMISSION 
 
REF: SECSTATE 55422 
 
1. SUMMARY: Pursuant to reftel, Post has reviewed all cases 
in the past year involving investment disputes and found that 
there were no/no cases of expropriations (or other takings) 
without compensation on the part of the New Zealand 
government. In regards to disputes between a U.S. 
person/corporation and the local government affecting 
investment property disputes, Post reviewed the 98 cases 
filed with New Zealand's Overseas's Investment Office (OIO) 
between June 2006 and May 2007 and found only 2 cases in 
which a U.S. person may have been adversely affected. Both 
cases involved the purchase of land considered to be 
"environmentally sensitive" or property having a "cultural 
significance" because it bordered protected or indigenous 
territory. Overall New Zealand remains an open economy with a 
strong respect for investments and private property rights as 
reflected in international surveys. End Summary 
 
BACKGROUND ON NEW ZEALAND'S INVESTMENT CLIMATE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (U) According to the Heritage Foundation's 2007 Index of 
Economic Freedom, New Zealand's overall economy is ranked at 
number 5 among the top 10 "economically free" countries. New 
Zealand's overall score is 81.6, just below the U.S., which 
scored 82, and compared to a world average of 60.6   New 
Zealand's overall Investment Freedom score was 70, 
demonstrating that New Zealand encourages foreign investment 
and barriers to investment are minimal. There are a few areas 
in which foreign ownership is restricted: Telecom New Zealand 
(the national telecommunication company), Air New Zealand 
(the national air carrier), and fishing rights (complex 
treaty arrangements with indigenous peoples preclude open 
market exchange). 
 
3. (U) Despite New Zealand encouraging foreign investment 
generally without discrimination, the government does screen 
certain types of foreign investment through an agency called 
the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).  Amid growing public 
concern about purchases of coastal properties by foreigners, 
the New Zealand government enacted legislation in August 2005 
that increased screening and monitoring of land purchases, 
but raised the minimum threshold for scrutiny of proposed 
business purchases.   Under the legislation, the threshold 
for screening non-land business assets has increased from 
US$37.5 million to US$75 million, where a foreigner proposes 
to take ownership or control of 25 percent or more of a 
business.  Government approval is required for purchases of 
land larger than 5 hectares (12.35 acres) and of land in 
certain sensitive or protected areas.  Any application 
involving land in any form must meet a national interest 
test.  For land purchases, foreigners who do not intend to 
live in New Zealand must provide a management proposal 
covering any historic, heritage, conservation or public 
access matters and any economic development planned.  The 
proposal must be approved and generally made a condition of 
consent.  In addition, approved investors are required to 
report regularly on their compliance with the terms of the 
consent.  Overseas persons also must demonstrate the 
necessary experience to manage the investment. Full 
remittance of profits and capital is permitted through normal 
banking channels.  (Note: The OIO, part of Land Information 
New Zealand (LINZ), took over the functions of the former 
Overseas Investment Commission (OIC) in August 2005. End note) 
 
ONLY TWO U.S.INVESTORS DENIED BY OIO IN PAST YEAR 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
4. (U) In the past year (June '06 to May '07) OIO reviewed 98 
foreign investment applicants, three of which involved U.S. 
persons or corporations as potential investor/buyers. Of 
these only 2 application were denied. Both denials involved 
purchase of land (as opposed to business enterprises) 
intended for commercial purposes. Since its inception, the 
OIO estimates that the value of investments approved by the 
agency rose from US$10.5 billion in 2005 to US$15 billion in 
2006 (figures for 2007 are not yet available). The amount of 
land approved for sale by OIO grew from 16,000 hectares in 
2005 to 101,000 hectares in 2006. It is estimated that about 
7 percent of New Zealand land is now foreign-owned. 
Furthermore of all applications filed this past year with OIO 
by international investors the largest single approval was 
for the sale of New Zealand Bluebird, a snack business, to 
U.S. firm PepisCo for US$185 million. 
 
5. (U) Claimant 1 proposed to purchase 13.9 hectares of 
 
WELLINGTON 00000444  002 OF 002 
 
 
freehold at 300 Whaanga Rd, Raglan in the Waikato Region 
valued at US$613,200 from a New Zealand person. The land in 
question contained an area established in plantation pines 
and an area of native bush subject to one of New Zealand's 
conservation covenants. The proposed use for the land 
involved the establishment of a Health Spa and Conference 
Center facility, including 12 two-bed units, a restaurant, 
full-service spa, and a manager's house. The facility was to 
be designed to blend into the environment. On January 24, 
2007, OIO declined consent. The OIO stated that it &was not 
satisfied that the proposal will or is likely to result in 
substantial and identifiable benefit to New Zealand, or ... 
New Zealanders.8 There has to date been no additional legal 
action taken by U.S. claimant to dispute the OIO decision. 
 
6. (U) Claimant 2 proposed to purchase 8.4 hectares of 
freehold at the corner of State Highway No 6 and McMilliam 
Road Garston in the Otago Region values at US$474,189.51 from 
a U.S. person. The land is situated near the Matuara River 
known for the quality of its fishing activity. The property 
currently holds the Upper Mataura Angler,s Lodge, which the 
claimant proposed to further develop using expertise and 
contacts in both fishing and accommodation. A decision by OIO 
was rendered on March 6, 2007, which declined consent. In 
justifying their decision the OIO stated that it &was not 
satisfied that the proposal will or is likely to result in 
substantial and identifiable to New Zealand, or ... New 
Zealanders.8 There has to date been no additional legal 
action taken by U.S. claimant to dispute the decision of the 
OIO. 
 
(NOTE: Per reftel instruction the actual names of claimants 
provided separately: Claimant 1 (Andrew Johnson Smith, 
AmCit); Claimant 2 (Bernero Holdings Limited, AmCorp). 
ENDNOTE) 
 
7. COMMENT: While there have been occasional rumblings 
regarding foreign ownership of Kiwi lands and enterprises by 
some of the fringe political groups, notably the Greens, 
there is no threatening ground swell forming among the local 
population or government to block foreign investments. 
Sentiments sometime peak when pristine landscape is under 
consideration for commercial development especially in what 
is perceived as environmentally sensitive tracts of land. But 
the OIO's track record indicates that the majority of 
applications to purchase by U.S. citizens and corporations 
are approved. End Comment. 
 
MCCORMICK