A survey of New Zealanders stance on foreign investment in our farmland suggests we aren’t as opposed to the idea as we might think.

Natural Dairy Holdings – the company looking to buy the Crafar family farms, commissioned a poll of a thousand people, and found 65 per cent thought sales should only be made to New Zealand residents

But, more than half said nationality wouldn’t matter if only New Zealand workers were employed, and tax was paid here.

Natural Dairy spokesperson Bill Ralston says that’s a vote of confidence for the company’s Crafar bid.

“The people at the top seem to be quite happy with the idea that if they can make a robust enough business case, which they believe they have, then the majority of New Zealanders would be happy with that."

Mr Ralston says Natural Dairy would contribute more than some other companies in tax revenue.

"If Natural Dairy can triple the amount of export receipts out of those farms, making value added products like UHT milk and infant formula and the like, it’s going to lead to more tax money coming in.

"If those farms remained supplying Fonterra in the old, traditional way, they would make far less for the country.”

The survey also found more than 40 per cent of people were extremely uncomfortable with farmland being sold to Chinese buyers, compared to just a quarter against sales to British interests, and nearly 20 per cent to Australia.