06 June 2001

The Green Party today said the Government should be strong in its support for a return of Brierley's Air NZ stake to New Zealand hands.

A report on National Radio this morning said the Government favours a New Zealand consortium buying out Brierley's 30 percent holding in Air NZ's restricted A shares, but a spokeswoman for Dr Cullen's office declined to comment further to NZPA.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said today that rules restricting foreign ownership of the A shares should be adhered to.

"The Overseas Investment Commission should never have allowed Brierley Investment to keep the shares in the first place once they moved off-shore, and the Government should tighten the rules to make sure that loophole is closed."

Mr Donald said that now Brierley's stake is for sale, it should be brought back into New Zealand hands not sold to another foreign company.

"Air NZ is more than a symbol of national identity, it is a strategic asset.

"Our burgeoning tourism industry depends on New Zealand having a national carrier with significant local ownership.

"A national carrier is the best way to ensure that regional airports get adequate service and New Zealand retains enough inbound flights from overseas."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>