The High Court has ordered Government ministers who agreed to a Chinese company buying the Crafar farms to reconsider the application.
The judgement of Justice Miller follows a successful application by a group of New Zealand farmers and iwi, led by Sir Michael Fay, to block the sale of the 16 in-receivership farms.
The group had sought a judicial review of the Overseas Investment recommendation for approval for the $210 million purchase by Shanghai Pengxin and the Government's support for that recommendation.
Justice Miller said the application for review was granted and the decision by Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and Associate Finance Minister Jonathan Coleman was set aside.
The judge directed that the ministers reconsider the application by Shanghai Pengxin subsidiary Milk New Zealand.
- Fairfax NZ