A: New Zealand produces only 2% of the world’s milk but 30% of world export trade. As one of the world’s largest and most respected producers and exporters of dairy commodities New Zealand is well respected for its secure and safe food production.

China continues to be New Zealand’s biggest export destination increasingly demanding higher food quality; we want to be a participant and contributor to this success story.

A: We believe that all foreign direct investment into New Zealand (subject to some preconditions) is good for New Zealand because the injection of new capital creates jobs, growth and prosperity for Kiwis. While the funding comes from offshore, the local companies are run as part of the New Zealand community.

We understand the issue of foreign land ownership is topical and are acutely aware of our responsibilities to be good guardians of the land we own in New Zealand and other countries. The Chinese view of land ownership is linked to their own political structures whereby not even Chinese residents are owners of land.

A: Investment is just the start. Like all farmers our goal is to improve the land and the environment for the betterment of current and future generations of New Zealanders. Indirect value will, of course, go to China but the direct beneficiaries of our investment are the New Zealand economy (both national and local), the community (through training and job opportunities either on or in service provider of our farms) and the environment.

A:We are determined to invest in the farms and proect and enhance heritage sites, retaining expertise on the farms. We have already inject NZ$17m capex into our 16 North Island Farms and a total of NZ$33m with NZ$20 for debt reduction for our 13 farms in South Island.

The investment is creating more job opportunities in New Zealand, enhancing farm production which is resulting in increased export receipts, increasing processing of primary products, and increasing in export earnings.

We will also continue to improve New Zealand milk commodities to manufacture high value added dairy products, furthering New Zealand’s commercial relationship with China and expanding identification of marketing opportunities for New Zealand in China utilising on Pengxin’s local knowledge and contacts.

By providing and marketing value added products, we are providing choices for New Zealand farmers to supply. Not only commodity producers.

A:In the North Island, majority of our sixteen farms are in sharemilking arrangement with Landcorp except for Taharua which from 1st of June 2015 is managed by our internal management – Pengxin New Zealand Farm Group Limited. In the South Island, our thirteen farms are managed internally and directly by Purata Farming.

A: Lochinver is an iconic New Zealand station which has been well farmed and managed by the Stevenson family. We see potential to further improve the productive capacity of the land and to add value to the industries it serves, to the environment and to the local community.

A: The raw milk from some of our Central North Island Farms is contracted exclusively to Miraka Limited, (New Zealand’s only Maori owned and controlled dairy company) which produces and exports UHT products to China. We are currently exploring how we may best expand our product range.

A: Yes. We see ourselves as part of New Zealand business and discharge our responsibilities accordingly. As an international private company, our accounts are on public record, audited by Deloitte.

A: The Chairman of Shanghai Pengxin, Jiang Zhaobai, wants to sell down his interest in Shanghai Pengxin, from 99 to 55 percent, to Dakang Pasture Farming which is a publicly listed company in China. This will enable increased capital injection to further develop our farms.

A: The Overseas Investment Act requires that any sale of New Zealand must first be made available to New Zealanders. The intended sale of our farms to Hunan Dakang constitutes a change of ownership requiring us to seek expressions of interest for a period of 20 days in an advertisement on TradeMe. As required by law, any responses to that advertisement are being professionally and independently assessed before a report is provided to the Overseas Investment Office.

A: China has a different political system where there is no private ownership of land in China, no matter you are Chinese or New Zealanders or Americans. China treats investors from all over the world equally. China and New Zealand are committed to treat Chinese investors and investments equally under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It is not right to forbid Chinese investors to buy farm land while other foreign investors are allowed to do so.

A: Foreign owners will have to follow New Zealand laws, acts, and regulations. Under the Oversea Investment Act, foreigners are often required to meet even higher environmental, animal welfare and health & safety standards than local farmers.

A: Foreign investing means extra capital from overseas is injected into the New Zealand economy. Foreign investors always bring new business models, new technology and create new job opportunities, new export receipts and open new markets to New Zealand, especially when farm products are processed in a value-added form.