A Wellington-based barrister has been appointed to conduct a review of the Overseas Investment Office's (OIO) good character test.
Terence Stapleton QC will test whether the process in place for assessing good character is sufficiently robust.
The review has been set up after the office had to apologise to its minister for failing to conduct a robust inquiry when it approved the sale of Onetai Station in Taranaki to two Argentinian brothers.
Terence Stapleton QC Photo: SUPPLIED/Terence Stapleton QC
Rafael and Federico Grozovsky were found criminally responsible for chemical dumping from their tannery near Buenos Aires, but that information was not passed on to the minister.
The brothers are linked with Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is at the centre of the Panama Papers revelations about how the rich hide their wealth in overseas trusts.
Mr Stapleton will provide a written report to the Land Information chief executive by 15 June.