Matt Lauer may lose his New Zealand ranch following his firing from the "Today" morning news show, The New York Times reported.
Matt Lauer's purchase of the 16,000-acre farm was approved earlier this year but after his dismissal amid allegations of sexual misconduct, the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office is revisiting his case.
Lauer purchased the property, which is located on the shore of Lake Hawea on New Zealand's South Island and has been speculated to be worth $9.2 million, with his wife, Annette Lauer, through a New Zealand-based company, according to The New York Times.
Bloomberg noted that foreign buyers of land must meet various conditions before gaining consent for purchase and one of the requirements is that buyers "must continue to be of good character."
This has come to the forefront following NBC's announcement on Wednesday that Matt Lauer had been fired after a female colleague accused the "Today" news anchor of inappropriate sexual behavior during and after the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Lisa Barrett, Deputy Chief Executive of Policy and Overseas Investment, said in an emailed statement per Page Six that The Overseas Investment Office was aware of the allegations made against Lauer and of his dismissal.
"We are discussing this with his representative and are seeking further information," Barrett said.
New Zealand's definition of "good character" is broad and takes various aspects into account.
According to information released by the local government, factors such as legal contraventions or "any other matter that reflects adversely on the person's fitness to have the particular overseas investment," will be taken into account.
Based upon information about applying for consent of purchase, a person's good character assessment may be affected by "credible allegations of offending or contraventions of the law," as well as "investigations, prosecutions or other enforcement action by regulatory or professional bodies."
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