6 August 2013

Sale of Historic Home to Nats Appalling Says Peters

The sale of an historic Wellington house that was home to four prime ministers and several cabinet ministers should never have been sold to the National Party, says Rt Hon Winston Peters.

Mr Peters, who lived in the house in Pipitea Street himself while Foreign Minister, says if the property had to be sold it should have gone to auction and not flicked off by a National government to the National Party.

“At no stage were we told that the Government was going to sell this property to its political wing.

“This house is of great historical significance to all of New Zealand. It was actually home to two National, two Labour prime ministers and many cabinet ministers.

“This government will sell anything – especially if their political sponsors hold out their hands. Nothing is sacred to these people.

“It has an historic places designation but what is historic about this building now?

“It had a certain value so why didn’t the house go to auction?

“And what is the financial construction behind Pipitea Street Ltd which turns out to be a National Party front? Why was everything done in secret on 21 June?

“This sale has a familiar feel about it – like SkyCity Casino but on a smaller scale,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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New Court Orders, Screening, Guardianship Changes...: Government Ignoring Poverty, Again

It remains to be seen if announcements today will better protect children, but the National Government is forgoing an opportunity to really help kids by ignoring the elephant in the room, which is poverty, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei says.

"All the experts have told the Government that very low income is associated with higher rates of child maltreatment and neglect -- something which was totally ignored in the Government's Children's Action Plan and the announcements today," Mrs Turei said. More>>