Disgraced US TV anchor Matt Lauer holds onto Hunter Valley Station

Friday, 8 June 2018

NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer was fired over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Disgraced American TV host Matt Lauer will hold onto Hunter Valley Station after the Overseas Investment Office considered his character of fitness in light of sexual misconduct allegations.

He bought the 6468ha high-country station on the northern shores of Lake Hawea in 2017.

But the US Today anchor was then fired from the US Today show over allegations of sexual misconduct.

That prompted the OIO to take a closer look at his application, but it was found there was insufficient evidence to show Lauer had breached the condition of good character.

* Locals want more access guarantees to Hunter Valley Station

* US broadcaster Matt Lauer snaps up Wanaka real estate - reports**

The 100,500 hectare Hawea Conservation Park in Central Otago, access to which was stymied by the Overseas Investment Office and owner Matt Lauer.

'After investigating the matter and taking legal advice, we have reached the position that we have insufficient evidence at this time to take proceedings against Mr Lauer for breach of the condition,' LINZ Deputy Chief Executive Policy and Overseas Investment Lisa Barrett said.

But the OIO will continue to monitor Lauer 'should further information come to light'.

And it stresses it does not condone his behaviour.

Barrett said: 'In addition, the OIO has made it clear to Mr Lauer of his continuing obligation to remain of good character as a condition of his OIO consent.'

Lauer was investigated because OIO agreed to his purchase of Hunter Valley on the condition he continued to remain of good character.

After NBC News fired Lauer, it told the OIO in a statement that it had 'terminated Mr Lauer's employment due to sexually inappropriate behaviour in the workplace on the part of Mr Lauer in relation to an NBC colleague.'

The NBC also indicated that it might not have been an isolated incident, the OIO said.

An internal found four women had complained that Lauer engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour in the workplace .

But the OIO says there is no evidence of criminal conduct nor was a complaint laid with police.

Lauer fronted the NBC Today programme for more than 20 years and the network said it was the first complaint it had received about his behaviour.

Lauer also gave sworn statements to the OIO - but the won't be made public 'as they contain confidential material relating to the terms of Mr Lauer's employment at NBC.'

The OIO looked at the allegations and whether there had been any criminal conduct. It considered and tested confidential information supplied by both Lauer and NBC.

'In order to take any enforcement proceedings for a breach of the good character condition, the OIO needs to consider the nature of the allegation, what evidence there is about the allegation and the seriousness of the matter,' Barret said.

'The types of things we would need to consider are whether the person has been found guilty of an offence.'

Lauer travelled to London to conduct Pippa Middleton's first ever interview.

'Mr Lauer has not been charged with any offence, nor convicted, and the evidence available to the OIO at this time does not establish that Mr Lauer is unfit to continue to hold the asset.

'However in reaching this position we do not condone the inappropriate way that Mr Lauer has behaved.'

The OIO also reviewed other allegations made against Lauer in the media.

'While some of the allegations are troubling, the OIO cannot, and does not, rely on any unverified material or allegations made on social media,' the OIO said.

The OIO says there is is nothing to suggest 'a legitimate concern that he might misuse his position within Orange Lakes to replicate behaviour that would impact on his fitness to hold the asset'.

Although Lauer and his wife own the company - Orange Lakes - that hold the lease they are not involved in the daily operation of the Hunter Valley station and they continue to live in the United States.

Access to the Hunter Valley, which stretches 40km to the Southern Alps, and Lake Hawea conservation reserve was in dispute before Lauer and wife Annette purchased the working farm.

Locals had hoped for a breakthrough when he bought the land. As foreign buyers, they needed OIO approval - and officials set some conditions.

'The Consent Holder has demonstrated its willingness to facilitate, as lease holder, public access to several important sites on or around the land,' the OIO noted in its February 2017 decision to allow the purchase.\

But since the sale went through, locals said that hadn't happened - and said access to a public road which leads into the valley's Terrace Creek has been blocked off.

Lauer also promised to invest just shy of $2 million over five years to improve the farm and boost stock numbers. The station was on the market for five years before the Lauers' bid.

A keen fisherman Lauer gushed about New Zealand after a holiday. He told Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon: 'It's the most sensational country on the planet. It's beautiful.'