Australian Mining Group Secures Central Otago Farmland For Large-Scale Gold Development
Matakanui Land Limited (Australia 63%, New Zealand 37%), ultimately owned by Santana Minerals Limited, has been granted consent to acquire approximately 3,680 hectares of farmland across Ardgour Station and Bendigo Station in Tarras, Central Otago, for $80 million. The vendors were Bruce Duncan Stuart Jolly and Linda Marie Jolly, Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Official Information Act 1982 (New Zealand 100%) and Bendigo Station Limited (New Zealand 100%). The land will be used as part of a major gold mining development, including both open-pit and underground extraction, alongside continued pastoral leasing on unaffected areas.
The project represents a significant resource-sector investment, with expected capital expenditure exceeding $500 million over its lifecycle. It is projected to generate around 350 full-time equivalent jobs across construction and operational phases, along with increased export receipts, regional economic activity, and downstream benefits through local procurement and service demand.
However, the transaction also carries notable trade-offs. Large-scale open-pit mining on productive rural land raises environmental and landscape concerns, including long-term land disturbance, water use pressures, and potential impacts on tourism and rural character in Central Otago. There is also ongoing debate about the balance between short-to-medium-term economic gains from mineral extraction and the irreversible nature of land transformation once mining begins. Additionally, as ownership sits offshore via an Australian-listed parent company, questions remain around how much long-term value and decision-making influence remains within New Zealand.
See also: Post, 26/6/26, https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361032636/concerns-increase-about-gold-mines-prospects-application-paused
German Pension Fund Expands New Zealand Forestry Portfolio
Ponga Arbor LP (Germany 100%) has been granted consent to acquire four production forests in Northland, covering approximately 982 hectares of land with around 661 hectares of productive Pinus radiata forest. The applicant is ultimately majority owned by an investment vehicle of the pension trust for the Mercedes-Benz Group and intends to continue the forests’ existing production forestry operations, with harvesting expected in approximately 25–34 years.
The investment reflects the growing role of overseas institutional investors, including pension funds, in New Zealand’s commercial forestry sector. They believe long-term investors can provide patient capital, maintain sustainable forest management, and contribute to regional economic activity through future harvesting and ongoing forestry operations.
However, the acquisition also continues the trend of productive forestry assets moving into overseas ownership. While no immediate change in land use is proposed, long-term control of forestry resources and the future economic returns from these assets will largely rest with foreign investors. The increasing presence of international institutional capital in New Zealand’s forestry estate also raises broader policy questions about domestic ownership, strategic control of productive land, and the long-term balance between attracting overseas investment and retaining ownership of key natural resources.
Global Media Merger Brings New Zealand Operations Under New Overseas Ownership
Paramount Skydance Corporation (United States 100%) has been granted consent to acquire up to 100% of the shares in Warner Bros Discovery, Inc. as part of a global merger valued at more than $NZ100 million. The transaction includes ownership of Warner Bros Discovery’s subsidiaries operating in New Zealand. The applicant is ultimately controlled by American business leaders Lawrence Ellison and David Ellison, and consent was granted after the investment passed New Zealand’s national interest assessment.
The merger may strengthen investment in media production, content distribution, and digital entertainment by combining two major global entertainment companies with greater financial resources and international reach. Large-scale mergers may also provide operational efficiencies and support continued investment in New Zealand’s screen and broadcasting sector.
However, the transaction also further concentrates ownership of media assets in the hands of large overseas corporations, decisions affecting New Zealand operations, investment priorities, and strategic direction will increasingly be made offshore. The merger also reflects the continuing global consolidation of the entertainment industry, raising broader questions about market concentration, competition, and the extent of domestic influence over media businesses operating in New Zealand.
Japanese-Owned Finance Company Receives Consent for $100 Million Securitisation Programme
UDC Finance Limited (Japan 65%, United States 15%, United Kingdom 10%, Europe 6%, Various 4%) and NZGT (UDC) Trustee Limited (NZ 100%) have been granted consent for transactions exceeding $100 million under UDC’s receivables-backed securitisation programme. UDC, which is owned by Japan’s SBI Shinsei Bank, uses the programme to fund its lending business for vehicle, plant, and equipment finance across New Zealand.
The securitisation provides an important source of funding for finance companies, helping maintain access to credit for businesses purchasing vehicles, machinery, and equipment. By diversifying funding sources, the programme can improve liquidity, support business investment, and contribute to wider economic activity. However, the transaction also highlights the growing role of overseas-owned financial institutions in New Zealand’s credit markets.
While no land or physical assets are being acquired, ownership and financing structures underpinning lending activities are increasingly linked to international capital markets. This can improve access to investment capital but also reinforces New Zealand’s reliance on offshore financial institutions and global funding conditions, raising broader questions about financial resilience and domestic control of key lending institutions.
While overseas funding can improve access to capital and lower financing costs, it may also increase New Zealand’s exposure to international financial market conditions. Greater reliance on offshore investors could affect the availability and cost of credit during periods of global economic instability, while strategic decisions and a share of financial returns remain under overseas ownership.
See also: OIO Decisions, July 2025, “SBI Holdings Increases Control Of Shinsei Bank, NZ (Retrospective Consent)”, https://www.cafca.org.nz/foreign-investment-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/foreign-investment-in-new-zealand/analysis-of-foreign-investment-decisions-by-year/oio-decisions-for-2025/2025/12/overseas-investment-office-july-2025-decisions/
Overseas-Backed Partnership Approved For Queenstown Housing Development
Frankton Road Queenstown Limited Partnership (New Zealand 37%, United States 26%, Philippines 19%, Australia 17%, United Kingdom 1%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 0.99 hectares of land on Frankton Road, Queenstown for $6 million. The partnership plans to demolish two existing houses and construct 30 new townhouses for sale.
The project will likely increase housing supply in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing and most expensive property markets. Redeveloping underutilised land into higher-density housing can improve land efficiency, stimulate construction activity, create employment, and help address housing shortages in Queenstown. However, the development also reflects the continuing role of overseas-backed investment in New Zealand’s residential property market.
While increasing housing supply is generally viewed as a public benefit, questions remain about who ultimately benefits from new developments, particularly in high-value markets where affordability remains a significant challenge. The case also highlights the growing reliance on international capital to finance residential development, raising broader policy debates about housing affordability, foreign investment, and long-term ownership of New Zealand’s urban land..
United Kingdom-Owned Dairy Operation Expands Canterbury Farm
Clarenshelf Forty-Three Limited (United Kingdom 100%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 76.5 hectares of farmland in Hurunui, Canterbury. The land adjoins an existing dairy farm owned by the applicant and will be integrated into its current operation. The company plans to invest in pivot irrigators and other dairy infrastructure to improve productivity.
Expanding an existing farming operation can generate additional capital investment, improve agricultural productivity, increase export earnings, and support employment in the rural economy. Investment in irrigation and farm infrastructure may also enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the long-term viability of the business. However, the acquisition also continues the trend of overseas ownership of productive agricultural land in New Zealand.
While the investment promises economic benefits, it means another farming asset will remain under foreign ownership, with a portion of future profits and strategic decision-making located offshore. The case reflects the ongoing policy debate over balancing the economic gains of foreign investment with concerns about domestic ownership of productive farmland, long-term control of agricultural assets, and the distribution of returns generated from New Zealand’s primary sector.
See also: OIO Decisions, December 2000, when Clarenshelf Forty-Three Limited purchased a Canterbury farm https://www.cafca.org.nz/foreign-investment-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/foreign-investment-in-new-zealand/analysis-of-foreign-investment-decisions-by-year/oic-decisions-for-2000/2000/12/december-2000-decisions/.
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Australian Investment Group Acquires Christchurch Casino
CCL NZ BidCo Limited (Australia 100%) has been granted consent to acquire up to 100% of the shares in Christchurch Casino Limited, including approximately 0.61 hectares of associated land in central Christchurch currently used as the casino’s commercial car park. The purchaser forms part of Australia’s Iris Capital, a private investment group with interests in hospitality, property, and entertainment. Christchurch Casino also holds a 33% ownership stake in Dunedin Casinos Limited.
The acquisition may bring new capital, commercial expertise, and investment into New Zealand’s hospitality and entertainment sector. This could support tourism, local employment, and the ongoing operation of one of Christchurch’s major entertainment venues. However, the transaction also transfers ownership of a significant New Zealand gaming business to overseas investors.
While the land itself will continue to serve a commercial purpose, ownership of casino operations – and the profits they generate ill increasingly sit offshore. The acquisition also raises broader questions about foreign ownership of businesses operating in regulated sectors such as gambling, where commercial objectives must be balanced against wider social considerations, community impacts, regulatory, and public interest oversight.
Global Consumer Products Merger Receives New Zealand Consent
Vesta Sub II, LLC. (North America 83%, Europe 11%, United Kingdom 3%, Various 3%), a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, has been granted consent to acquire up to 100% of the shares in Kenvue Inc as part of a global merger valued at $269 million for New Zealand overseas investment purposes. Kenvue (United States of America 73%,
United Kingdom 7%, Europe 7%, Various 13%) is a transnational health products company with operations in New Zealand, and consent was required because the transaction involves significant business assets.
While the merger may strengthen investment in health and consumer products by combining two major transnational companies with global distribution networks, research capabilities, and financial resources and while the transaction could also improve operational efficiencies and ensure continued supply of internationally recognised health and personal care products in New Zealand, the acquisition, however, also reflects the ongoing consolidation of transnational corporations operating in New Zealand.
As ownership becomes concentrated within larger overseas companies, strategic decision-making, investment priorities, and future profits are increasingly controlled offshore. While New Zealand consumers may experience little immediate change, the case illustrates how significant businesses operating domestically can become part of wider global corporate restructuring, reducing local influence over major commercial decisions.
Overseas-Backed Developer Approved For Queenstown Land Swap
RCL Henley Downs Limited (New Zealand 70%, United States 13%, United Kingdom 8%, Various 9%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 1,300 square metres of land at the Hanley’s Farm subdivision in Queenstown through a land swap agreement. Rather than a cash purchase, the developer will exchange around 3,300 square metres of land with neighbouring owners to regularise property boundaries and enable the creation of five new residential lots.
The land swap will improve the efficiency of an existing residential development by enabling better subdivision design and the construction of additional homes. Although relatively small, the transaction contributes to increasing housing supply in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions and supports continued urban development in Queenstown. However, the case also highlights the continuing role of overseas-backed developers in shaping New Zealand’s housing market.
While boundary adjustments and higher-density developments can improve land use, they also reinforce the growing influence of foreign-backed capital in residential development. As with similar approvals, the broader policy debate centres on balancing the benefits of additional housing and investment against concerns over long-term ownership, affordability, and the increasing reliance on international investment to deliver residential growth.
Retrospective Consent Granted For Overseas-Owned Equine Quarantine Facility
Muir Road Partnership (New Zealand 67%, Australia 33%) has been granted retrospective consent for its acquisition of approximately 17.1 hectares of farmland in Karaka, South Auckland, purchased in 2015 (! Ed.) for $1.86 million. The land was acquired without the required Overseas Investment Act consent, but the owners voluntarily disclosed the breach to Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The property has been operating as a Ministry for Primary Industries-approved quarantine facility for imported horses, and retrospective consent was granted after the investment satisfied the farm land benefit test.
The facility provides important biosecurity infrastructure for New Zealand’s equine industry, supporting the safe importation of horses while contributing through capital investment, employment, productivity gains, and the advancement of government biosecurity objectives. The voluntary disclosure of the compliance breach was also recognised in the Decision. However, the case highlights the importance of compliance with New Zealand’s overseas investment rules.
Although the breach was found to be inadvertent and later regularised, retrospective approvals can raise questions about the effectiveness of regulatory oversight and whether overseas investors may benefit from transactions before obtaining the required consent. The decision illustrates the balance regulators must strike between enforcing compliance and recognising cases where investments deliver ongoing public benefits.
Swiss-German Investment Fund Expands New Zealand Forestry Holdings
Kauri Forestry LP (Switzerland 65%, Germany 35%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 498 hectares of forestry land at Tuturumuri, South Wairarapa. The property includes around 447 hectares of productive plantation forest, which the applicant intends to continue managing for commercial forestry. This continued investment in commercial forestry can provide long-term capital, support regional employment, maintain timber production, and contribute to New Zealand’s export economy.
However, the approval also adds to the growing portfolio of New Zealand forestry assets held by overseas-backed investment funds. While production remains in New Zealand, ownership of the land and future returns increasingly rests with foreign investors. The continuing concentration of overseas ownership in the forestry sector has prompted wider debate over long-term control of strategic land, the balance between domestic and international investment, and whether the economic benefits generated by New Zealand’s natural resources are being retained within the country.
See also: OIO Decisions, April 2026, “Swiss–German Forestry Fund Expands Conversion Strategy Into Hawke’s Bay Farmland”and “Swiss–German Forestry Investor Expands New Zealand Landholdings Through Multiple Wairarapa Acquisitions”.
Overseas-Owned Education Provider Receives Retrospective Consent After Compliance Breach
UP Education Bidco Limited (Cayman Islands 58%, Australia 30%, New Zealand 6%, Spain 6%) has been granted retrospective consent to lease a residential property at 766 River Road, Hamilton, for use as an education and training centre. The company acquired the lease without first obtaining Overseas Investment Act approval and later voluntarily disclosed the breach to Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), explaining it resulted from a misinterpretation of the regulations. Consent was granted after the investment met the non-residential use test, and the company was required to pay a $20,000 retrospective penalty.
Converting an existing residential property into a training facility supports education and workforce development without changing ownership of the land itself. The applicant’s voluntary disclosure and cooperation with regulators also demonstrate that the compliance framework can encourage self-reporting and corrective action where genuine mistakes occur. However, this highlights the importance of complying with New Zealand’s overseas investment rules before completing transactions.
Although the breach was considered inadvertent, retrospective approvals may raise concerns that overseas investors can regularise non-compliant transactions after the fact. The involvement of a private equity-backed education provider, ultimately controlled through offshore investment structures, also reflects the increasing role of international investment funds in New Zealand’s education sector and the need for effective regulatory oversight.
US-Owned Luxury Accommodation Business Expands Auckland Operations
KTW Systems LP (United States 100%) has been granted consent to acquire a 0.05-hectare residential property in Birkenhead, Auckland for $1.9 million. The property adjoins the applicant’s existing luxury accommodation business, Baybridge House, and will be used to provide accommodation for staff rather than for general residential purposes. The purchase supports the operation of an established tourism business by providing dedicated staff accommodation, helping address workforce housing needs and supporting the hospitality sector.
The investment was also said to strengthen local tourism by enabling the continued operation and growth of a high-end accommodation provider. However, the acquisition also reflects the increasing purchase of residential property by overseas-owned commercial enterprises. Although the property will support business operations, it will no longer contribute to Auckland’s general housing supply, instead being reserved for employee accommodation. More broadly, the case highlights the ongoing balancing act between supporting tourism investment and protecting the availability of residential housing in high-demand urban areas.
Swiss-Backed Developer Approved For 41-Unit Queenstown Apartment Project
Thompson St Developments Limited (Switzerland 80%, New Zealand 20%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 0.29 hectares of residential land at 78, 80 and 82 Thompson Street, Queenstown for $8.1 million. The vendors were Buena Vista (2006) Limited. The site currently contains three houses, which will be demolished and replaced with a 41-unit apartment development to be sold on the open market. The project will significantly increase housing density by replacing three dwellings with 41 apartments in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing and most supply-constrained housing markets. The development is also said to generate construction activity, investment, and economic benefits while making more efficient use of urban land.
However, the project also illustrates the growing role of overseas-backed developers in shaping New Zealand’s residential property market. While additional housing can help ease supply pressures, questions remain about who ultimately benefits from these developments, particularly in high-value locations such as Queenstown where affordability remains a major challenge. The continued reliance on foreign capital to deliver new housing also raises broader policy questions about ownership, housing accessibility, and the long-term influence of overseas investors in New Zealand’s urban development.
UK-Backed Partnership Approved To Convert Canterbury Farm To Dairy Operation
Toitu Farming Partners LP (United Kingdom 90%, New Zealand 10%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 183 hectares of farmland at Greendale, Selwyn. Said vendors were Peter Leonard Pascoe and Joan Patricia Pascoe (New Zealand 100%). The property is currently used for sheep grazing and onion production but will be converted into a dairy farming operation.
The conversion is expected to generate new capital investment, create employment, improve agricultural productivity, and increase export earnings. Dairy remains one of New Zealand’s largest export industries, and investment in modern farming operations can strengthen regional economies while supporting downstream processing and supply chains.
However, converting land from mixed farming to dairy also raises broader environmental and policy questions. Dairy farming typically requires greater water use and can increase nutrient runoff, greenhouse gas emissions, and pressure on freshwater ecosystems if not carefully managed. The approval also contributes to the continued expansion of overseas ownership within New Zealand’s agricultural sector, prompting ongoing debate over foreign control of productive farmland and whether the long-term economic returns from agricultural assets remain within New Zealand.
Australian-Owned Holiday Park Secures Long-Term Lease At Motutere Bay
Trans Tasman Holiday Parks Limited (Australia 100%) has been granted consent to acquire a long-term lease over approximately 13.24 hectares of sensitive land at Motutere Bay, Lake Taupō. The company, which already operates the Motutere Bay TOP 10 Holiday Park, negotiated a new long-term lease with the Taupō District Council (NZ 100%) to allow the holiday park to continue operating. Renewing the lease provides certainty for an established tourism business, helping sustain local employment, visitor spending, and regional economic activity. Continuing the operation of an existing holiday park also avoids disruption to tourism infrastructure and supports New Zealand’s domestic and international visitor economy.
However, the decision also reflects the continued role of overseas-owned companies in managing tourism assets situated on publicly owned land. While the lease does not transfer ownership of the land itself, long-term control by foreign-owned operators can raise questions about public oversight, the distribution of economic returns, and whether strategic tourism assets should remain under greater New Zealand ownership or management. The case highlights the ongoing balance between attracting private investment and ensuring public assets continue to deliver broad community benefits.
Fletcher Residential Expands Christchurch Housing Development Under Standing Consent
Fletcher Residential Limited and Vivid Living Limited (Australia 45%, New Zealand 26%, United States 18%, Various 11%) have notified their second acquisition under an existing residential standing consent. The companies acquired approximately 1.42 hectares of land in Sydenham, Christchurch for $6.64 million, with plans to develop the site into a residential subdivision of around 80 new homes.
The project will make a meaningful contribution to Christchurch’s housing supply by delivering a relatively high number of new dwellings on an urban site. The standing consent process can also streamline approvals for experienced developers allowing housing projects to proceed more efficiently while supporting construction employment and urban growth.
However, the development also illustrates the growing role of overseas-backed developers in New Zealand’s residential market. While the project is expected to increase housing supply, questions remain over the affordability of newly built homes and whether developments primarily benefit local buyers or higher-income purchasers. More broadly, standing consents allow multiple acquisitions under a single approval, raising ongoing policy questions about balancing efficient housing delivery with oversight of cumulative overseas ownership of residential land.
See also: OIO Decisions, August 2025, “Fletcher’s Latest Housing Expansion Adds To Foreign-Controlled Urban Development”, https://www.cafca.org.nz/foreign-investment-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/foreign-investment-in-new-zealand/analysis-of-foreign-investment-decisions-by-year/oio-decisions-for-2025/2025/12/overseas-investment-office-august-2025-decisions/
US Agritech Giant Takes Full Control Of New Zealand Biotechnology Company
Corteva Holdings NZ (North America 73%, United Kingdom 7%, Europe 5%, Various 15%) has been granted consent to acquire the remaining 80% of Biotelliga Holdings Limited (New Zealand 94%, Australia 4%, Germany 1%, Taiwan 1%) for $90 million, giving it full ownership of the New Zealand agricultural biotechnology company. Biotelliga develops sustainable technologies for managing crop pests and diseases, and the applicant has stated that the business will continue operating in New Zealand
The acquisition could strengthen Biotelliga’s access to international capital, research capabilities, and global distribution networks. As one of the world’s largest agricultural science companies, Corteva may be well placed to commercialise New Zealand-developed innovations, supporting exports and accelerating the adoption of sustainable farming technologies.
However, the transaction also represents another successful New Zealand technology company coming under full overseas ownership. Although research and operations may remain in New Zealand, strategic decision-making, intellectual property, and future commercial returns will ultimately be controlled offshore. The acquisition therefore raises broader questions about New Zealand’s ability to retain ownership of high-value biotechnology companies as they mature and whether greater domestic investment is needed to support innovative firms without relying on overseas buyouts.
Singapore Investor Acquires Central Otago Vineyard For Expansion
Alpha Ally One Limited (Singapore 100%) has been granted consent to acquire approximately 56.4 hectares of vineyard land at Cromwell, Otago. The property, previously owned by Misha’s Vineyard Wines Limited (NZ 91%, various 9%), will continue operating as a vineyard, with plans to expand the plantable area. The investment will inject new capital into New Zealand’s premium wine industry, expand vineyard production, create employment, and increase export earnings. Continued investment may also strengthen Central Otago’s international reputation as a premium wine region, support local contractors and service businesses, and create opportunities for wineries, tourism operators, and regional suppliers that depend on a growing wine sector.
However, the approval also contributes to the gradual transfer of ownership of New Zealand’s premium agricultural land into overseas hands. While production remains in New Zealand, strategic decisions, long-term profits, and future capital gains may increasingly accrue to offshore owners rather than local investors. Greater foreign ownership of vineyards may also make it more difficult for New Zealand growers and family-owned wineries to compete for high-quality land as prices rise. More broadly, the case raises continuing policy questions about how much of New Zealand’s internationally recognised wine industry should remain under domestic ownership and whether the economic benefits of foreign investment outweigh the long-term loss of NZ local control over premium food and beverage assets.
UK Agricultural Finance Firm Expands NZ Livestock Lending Through $100M+ Securitisation Deal
Oxbury Agricultural Finance Limited (New Zealand 50%, United Kingdom 30%, Channel Islands 2%, Various 17%) has been granted consent for a transaction involving over $100 million in livestock-backed securities under the Oxbury Securitisation Trust 2026-1. The deal relates to livestock bailments originated in New Zealand, where animals are held under structured financing arrangements as part of agricultural lending operations. Vendor is withheld.
Arrangements like this improve access to agricultural finance, allowing farmers to purchase livestock and manage cash flow without relying solely on traditional bank lending. Structured finance can also increase liquidity in the rural credit market and support productivity in the primary sector, which remains central to New Zealand’s export economy. In that sense, offshore-linked capital can indirectly support on-farm investment and rural economic stability.
However, this type of transaction also illustrates a less visible form of financialisation of agriculture, where productive assets like livestock become tied to complex securitisation structures. While ownership of physical assets remains in New Zealand, the financial control and returns on those assets may be distributed across offshore investors and structured funds. This can reduce transparency in rural finance and increase reliance on international capital markets. It also raises questions about systemic risk, regulatory and compliance especially if global credit conditions tighten and affect access to livestock funding in New Zealand.
German-Finnish Forestry Investor Continues Expansion Under Standing Consent Regime
Totara Forestry Services Limited (Germany 74%, Finland 19%, Various 7%) has completed its fourth acquisition under an existing standing consent for special forestry investments. The transaction involves approximately 114.8 hectares of land at Galatea, Whakatāne, purchased for about $2.79 million. The land is already used for commercial forestry and will continue to be managed as part of the investor’s wider forestry portfolio, with harvesting expected around 2048. The vendor is Tau Ke Moehewa Limited.
Investments of this type may provide long-term stability for New Zealand’s forestry sector. International capital enables large-scale replanting, sustained forest management, and continued employment in rural regions where forestry is a key industry. Standing consents can also reduce administrative burden while maintaining oversight, allowing experienced forestry operators to expand efficiently across multiple sites. However, the repeated use of standing consents also highlights how foreign-owned forestry portfolios can gradually accumulate large landholdings across New Zealand with limited public visibility on each transaction’s broader cumulative impact.
While each individual purchase may meet the special forestry test, the long-term effect is a steady increase in offshore ownership of productive land and carbon forestry assets. This raises ongoing questions about land aggregation, long-term control of carbon forestry returns, and whether regulatory settings sufficiently capture the cumulative scale of foreign ownership in the sector. It also increases the risk that decision-making over land use priorities shifts further away from local communities, particularly in regions where forestry is the dominant land use and economic driver.