“We’re always open-minded regarding acquisitions,” Ngai Tahu Holdings chief executive Mike Sang said.
“It’s fairly early in the process and we can’t really comment on our position until we know more.”
The South Island iwi had a first right of refusal agreement “over some Landcorp farms though not all”.
National said that if it formed the next government, it would start a sell-off of Landcorp farms, initially leasing them to young farmers, who would have to farm them for a minimum five years and then be able to buy them.
About 100 younger farmers could go into ownership under the plan, National’s primary industry spokesman Nathan Guy said.
Ngai Tahu had first rights over some South Island farms while there were also Treaty of Waitangi claims over North Island farms, he said.
