State owned Landcorp aims to make an offer for 16 Crafar family dairy farms that are in receivership. But now, it is just waiting for the approval from its board.

The Chief Executive of Landcorp, Chris Kelly said that he had treasured the farms and Landcorp would be putting it in a bid, soon.

"Landcorp would not be offering the big money Chinese company Natural Dairy was rumored to have negotiated with receivers KordaMentha" , Kelly said.

Natural Dairy, fronted by New Zealand-registered UBNZ, has a contract with the receivers to purchase the Crafar farms, but it is restricted on Overseas Investment Office permission.

The offer from Landcorp would also make it a condition that three farmhouses at Reporoa taken by Crafar family members were vacant.

Wife of family head Allan Crafar said last night that the family did not want to leave. She said court proceedings to hear the receivers' expulsion order against the family would take place next month.

Receivers said last month that there was considerable interest from a number of well experienced parties in the farms and last week Mr. Stiassny said that pushing time limit would give enough time to the parties to complete their unpaid diligence checks.