Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Investor Zhao Bin tried and then abandoned a bid to buy a $6 million northern Auckland property in 2014 without seeking Overseas Investment Office approval.
He then entered into a 10-year lease for the same land for $1 a year, with right of renewal.
It was only four years later that Zhao consulted a different lawyer, who reported the arrangement to the Overseas Investment Office.
It said he had failed to seek or receive consent.
The High Court ordered him to pay a fine of $49,000, less than 1 percent of the land value, and $15,000 in costs. Share this
auckland scoop co nz » First Penalty Against An Overseas Investor Leasing Land Without Consent
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First Penalty Against An Overseas Investor Leasing Land Without Consent
scoop.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scoop.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.