NEW Zealand farmers have won a High Court battle that could stop farmland being sold to Chinese interests.

The New Zealand Government had approved the sale of 16 dairy farms totalling 8000ha to the Shanghai Pengxuin Group. The land was to have been managed by Kiwis.

But the New Zealand High Court has ordered the Government to reconsider after a challenge from farmers and Maori groups.

New Zealand's Federated Farmers had argued the farms should have been sold individually and not as an amalgamated estate.

Dairy chairman Willy Leferink said farmers were "asking some big questions about the receivers' 'all or nothing' approach to selling farms".

"Since these farms went into receivership, some 150 dairy farms have been sold nationwide," Mr Leferink said.

"There are plenty of farmers who could have bought individual farms as going concerns."