The man spearheading opposition to the Government's sale of state houses says he believes the Pinnacle Group, headed by Chinese property billionaire Dr Henry Cheng Kar-Shun, is interested in buying the 370 houses for sale in Invercargill.
John Minto on Friday said Pinnacle Group, on its website, had indicated it was interested in the 1140 state houses on the market in Tauranga, and saw no reason why Pinnacle would not buy the Invercargill stock too.
"The website specifically mentions Tauranga, but they would be keen to buy anywhere, I think.''
The Government intends to sell up to a third of all state houses, beginning with Tauranga and Invercargill.
The book value of the Invercargill stock is $38million.
Minister of Finance Bill English has called for expressions of interest by the end of next month, with a decision expected in April.
Mr Minto heads the State Housing Action Network (Shan), which has seven branches, including one in Invercargill.
He said Shan had been given information anonymously that Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett met on December 11 with Roger O'Sullivan, who in October was appointed Pinnacle Group's New Zealand managing director.
The anonymous information tied in with the Pinnacle Group's website, he said.
Its website says: "Our current focus is on New Zealand where we have been shortlisted for Auckland City Council's ‘Housing for Older Persons' Project.
"Additionally, we are actively engaging in market soundings on Tamaki Regeneration and Tauranga Stock Transfer projects. New Zealand is providing very exciting market opportunities as the Government seeks innovative and transformative reform of the way social housing is managed and tenants supported.
"As the UK's largest private sector provider of Government-owned social housing services, with approximately 30,000 homes currently under management, we are determined to apply and share our experience, expertise, capability and capacity as a housing investor and operator within the New Zealand marketplace.''
A Gold Coast not-for-profit group charity, Horizon Housing, has indicated it was interested in buying at least 400 homes, while Dunedin-based mental health services provider Pact has said it was keen to acquire the Invercargill houses.
Mr Minto said as it had done with all other potential purchasers, Shan had written to Dr Cheng on Friday expressing its strong opposition to any purchaser, domestic or overseas, buying state houses.
"The government sell-off of state housing is a travesty. New Zealand needs more state housing, not less. We are in the middle of a housing crisis for low- and middle-income New Zealanders and only the Government has the resources and the capacity to provide the large number of quality, affordable housing so desperately needed.''
A spokesman for Paula Bennett said he was not aware of Ms Bennett having met Mr O'Sullivan.
