Jonathan and Annabel Wallis will have to wait another week to hear whether Land Information New Zealand will appeal a ruling on rent setting methodology for their pastoral lease property, Minaret Station.
The deadline for an appeal was yesterday, but Land Information New Zealand (Linz) applied for and was given a week's extension to examine further a ruling by the Otago Land Valuation Tribunal, which found amenity values could not be included when determining land valuations on which to set rents.
Agriculture Minister David Carter said in an interview an extension was needed to clarify some of the implications of the tribunal's ruling. A key question was how leaseholder and Crown interests should be valued.
"These are complications we need to quantify so we can continue the tenure review process in good faith," Mr Carter said.
The Government has been talking to Linz officials and the Solicitor-general, and Mr Carter said extending the period to consider an appeal by a week was appropriate.
He would not comment on whether Linz would appeal, but said the Government was happy with the general direction of the tribunal's decision.
The new deadline for an appeal is next Friday
