17 April 2002

Economic development minister Jim Anderton is concerned that ACT Party MP Rodney Hide is attacking business and investment for political gain.

“Having tried and failed to destroy NZ Post, Rodney Hide is taking it on himself to attack Sovereign Yachts for his own political profile. In my view this is political vandalism. This follows revelations that Rodney Hide spoke at an Investors International seminar scheme in Fiji which apparently fleeced investors reassured by his presence.

“Sovereign Yachts is a private company to which the NZ taxpayer has not given one cent of public money. Although Sovereign is in dispute with some suppliers over workmanship issues in Canada, this is an issue for the Canadian Courts and I understand all the money in dispute has been deposited in trust with the Court. It has nothing to do with the New Zealand operation.

“No amount of ACT vandalism and smearing of Sovereign will change the facts. New jobs are being created with more to come. These jobs would not exist if the land sat idle. In addition, tens of millions of dollars of new investment is being generated as the marine industry continues to offer considerable promise in sustainable new jobs”.

Jim Anderton is extremely concerned that commercial disputes are being used an political attack.

“The choice this government faced was whether to assist a viable business to come to New Zealand and create jobs or leave the land undeveloped for years to come. This Government chose jobs.

“ACT has already shown it is anti-poor, anti-elderly and anti-anyone who uses our health or education systems. But now we see they are also anti business and anti investment. ACT could appropriately be called the Anti Consumers and Taxpayers party.”

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