7 February 2011

The Māori Party must explain to its supporters why it is willing to continue supporting a Government that intends to sell large chunks of assets owned by the people of New Zealand, Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

In his first speech of the political year, John Key has indicated he will privatise four currently state-owned companies if National wins a second term. The Māori Party has not opposed this scheme on the proviso the assets stay in New Zealand ownership.

“Supporting John Key’s Government in their desire to sell off companies provided the ownership stays in New Zealand hands is naïve,” Dr Norman said.

“The Key Government will want to portray the sale to the electorate as benefiting mum and dad and Māori investors when it is inevitable the ownership will end up with overseas multi-nationals and investment funds.

“With more profits going offshore, New Zealand’s current account deficit will deteriorate further undermining the long-term resilience of our economy.

“The Māori Party also need to tell their supporters why they support this decision when it will likely hit their supporters in the wallet.

“Overseas, the trend following privatisation of state owned electricity companies has been higher prices for consumers,” said Dr Norman.

“Privatisation of our power companies will also make it harder to exert control over some of the main drivers of greenhouse gases.

“Selling off large chunks of our state owned assets is the equivalent of a homeowner selling their kitchen to pay the Sky bill,” Dr Norman said.

“The only plus of John Key’s election year speech is that he's given us time to organise an emphatic response to keep New Zealand assets in New Zealand ownership.”

Note: Over the weekend at Waitangi the Green Party circulated a petition calling for public assets to stay in public ownership for all New Zealander’s benefit.

Link to petition: http://www.greens.org.nz/petitions/petition-keep-it-kiwi

ENDS

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