Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

NZ First - serial asset sellers

Hon Jim Anderton

Progressive Party leader

21 October 2008 Media Statement

NZ First - serial asset sellers

Coming only weeks after Winston Peters personally signed a pledge stating 'my party will not initiate or support the sale of Kiwibank', his promise now to sell shares is erratic and confusing, Progressive MP Jim Anderton says.

As the MP who pushed to set up our own bank at a time when New Zealand's financial system was wholly overseas owned, Jim Anderton says Kiwibank isn't broken so it doesn't need fixing.

"The bank has attracted nearly 700,000 customers - still at the rate of 2000 new ones every week. It's worth half a billion dollars. It's successful because it's ours. Why would you say you want to sell shares in the bank to New Zealanders when we already own it?

"Selling Kiwibank would destroy it as fast as some political parties' secret donors could get their hands on it."

Jim Anderton says NZ First previously promised to restrict share ownership to New Zealanders when it sold Auckland Airport. As Treasurer he announced ordinary 'mums and dads' would own the airport. 'Every New Zealander who applies for a stake in Auckland International Airport will be allocated some shares,' he said.

"But it went offshore as fast as a wide bodied jet. After the two councils Mr Peters couldn't force to sell out, the 'mum and dad' shareholders who own Auckland Airport have names like 'Citicorp Nominees', 'HSBC' and 'JP Morgan Nominees Australia Ltd'.

"Winston Peters is a serial asset seller. When he says shares in Kiwibank would only be sold to New Zealanders, that now has as much credibility as his personal signature on a pledge not to sell the bank at all. This is the worst kind of pre-election political opportunism."

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.