Bill English MP
National Party Finance Spokesman

5 August 2008

Statement on secret recording

“Statements of mine secretly recorded at a social function last Friday and published over the weekend have caused confusion and concern about National’s policy on Kiwibank and Working for Families,” says National Party Finance spokesman Bill English.

“I did not choose my words well.

“We have worked for several years to find a better way of allowing families to keep their own income.

“We opted to retain the existing structure because we were not willing to create uncertainty for families under pressure. If we are elected we will work to improve the system for families without reducing entitlements.

“With respect to Kiwibank, I shouldn’t have made the comments I made. National has had no discussions about Kiwibank and has no plans to sell it.

“Comments I made regarding the complexity of WFF have been construed as criticism of John Key. That is wrong. My repeated responses to this question yesterday reflected my determination not to widen the debate – not an attempt to criticise John Key.

“I should have made it clear that I meant no such criticism and I’m making that clear today.”

ENDS

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