PM Wants More And More Foreign Ownership of New Zealand

Prime Minister John Key is New Zealand’s number one real estate salesman, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

“He knows we have ‘location, location, location’ and he won’t be happy till much of our land and many of our homes are gone. His suggestion that restricting foreign ownership is ‘silly’ proves he is absolutely out of touch with Kiwis.

“New Zealanders are alarmed about foreign ownership, not just of our homes, but of our land and our companies – and people in other countries have the same concerns,” says Mr Peters.

“This former currency trader doesn’t even have his finger on the pulse – he is blind to the fact that ‘hot cash’ is sloshing around the world and being pumped into land and property ownership, often simply for investment.

“In Australia the concern is so great a government inquiry has been launched into the effect of foreign ownership on housing affordability for the average Aussie. In 2013 foreigners spent $37 billion on real estate in Australia.

“Canada is blocking foreign ownership and Hong Kong is now taxing foreigners to prevent a property bubble as house prices kept rising.

“A New Zealand government’s role is not to hold the door open to a river of money saying we are up for sale. That is a sell-out not just of the country, but for many Kiwi’s hopes and aspirations of home ownership.

“The Prime Minister fails to understand that a home is not just an asset, it is where we obtain a stake in our country.

“Certainly New Zealand needs to build more homes for New Zealanders, but not more homes for foreigners who want an investment property.

“The best the National Government can say is that there is no data on foreign ownership. Well, that’s their fault, they refuse to keep any. New Zealand First has been calling for a register of foreign ownership of farmland and homes for long enough.

“John Key is so out of touch – has he not heard young Kiwis saying they will never own the Kiwi dream – a home of their own?” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media