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NBC News fired Lauer last November after a female colleague
accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior.
That raised questions in New Zealand about whether Lauer would
be able to retain an 11,000-hectare sheep and cattle farm he
bought with his wife in February 2017, given the country's
strict foreign investment laws require investors to "remain of
good character."
New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office (OIO), which has the
power to enforce the sale of property if any conditions are
breached, said it had "insufficient evidence at this time to
take proceedings against Mr Lauer for breach of the condition."
Lisa Barrett, deputy chief executive of policy and overseas
investment, noted that Lauer has not been charged with or
convicted of any offense.
"However, the OIO will continue to actively monitor the matter
should further information come to light," Barrett said in a
statement.
Ken Lindner, Lauer's agent in Los Angeles, was not immediately
available for comment.
Lauer recently issued a statement, included in the OIO's
decision, denying any allegations of "coercive, aggressive or
abusive actions", while acknowledging he "acted inappropriately
as a husband, father and principal at NBC."
Foreign ownership of land has generated a public backlash in New
Zealand in recent years, with the center-left ruling coalition
government introducing tougher standards for sale of farmland to
foreigners.
(Reporting by Nicholas Ford; Editing by Jane Wardell and
Gopakumar Warrier)
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