Clamp Down On Foreign Ownership Bizarre

Monday 10 Nov 2003 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today described the Labour Government's plan to clamp down on the sale of land to foreign interests as nothing short of bizzare.

"Such a draconian step will make New Zealand the laughing stock of the world. Labour and the Greens' archaic attitude towards foreign investment would be the envy of poverty-stricken Albania and North Korea," Mr Eckhoff said.

"New Zealand must be part of the global economy. It's time this Government grew up and recognised the importance of foreign investment to the well-being of the economy. Foreign investment creates jobs and drives growth.

"The simple fact is that all New Zealanders share a common immigrant background - even Prime Minister Helen Clark. To say who can, and who can't, purchase coastal properties is complete and utter nonsense.

"This is a barefaced attempt to curry favour with the Greens, who are currently drafting a xenophobic Bill seeking to block the sale of all land - not just rural, coastal properties - to non-resident foreigners.

"It is populist, unprincipled politics at its worst," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media