Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader

23 December 2014

Skycity “Go Ahead, Make My Day” And Walk Away

The Leader of New Zealand First, Rt Hon Winston Peters, is encouraging SkyCity to walk away from the so-called National Convention centre. This comes after SkyCity bosses put out the corporate begging bowl despite that company making a $123 million profit.

“The SkyCity National Convention centre mess is self-interested corporate and political conceit at its finest,” the Rt Hon Winston Peters said.

“This is what you expect from National who changed the law last year just to fit SkyCity. Now they have the cheek to hold tax and ratepayers over the barrel for the Convention Centre’s $130 million cost blow out. A sum inconveniently close to the profit SkyCity made.

“Go ahead, make my day SkyCity and do us all a favour by walking away.

“Or to paraphrase Minister Steven Joyce; it’s become “pretty messy.” National’s gambled on SkyCity and lost so it’s time to quit the game. Kiwis are sick of sweet heart deals like this.

“The Prime Minister and his acolytes were all cock-a-hoop after they traded extra pokie machines, gaming tables and a 27-year license extension for a supposedly “free” convention centre.

“This disaster joins Novapay and Customs Joint Border Management System as proof of this government’s incompetence. They can’t do anything on-time or on-budget, but what do you expect from a government which has never balanced the nation’s books?

“Is it coincidental that there’s an active campaign to nationalise the Auckland Energy Consumer Trust, which holds $2.1 billion worth of Vector shares.

“By stealing these shares and the dividend off Aucklanders, right wing neoliberals will be able to feed their banker mates, fund this Convention Centre debacle and still entice Mayor Brown with piles of cash for his public transport wish list.

“It reeks of wink-wink, nudge-nudge. Hardworking tax and ratepayers don’t deserve this and they won’t stand for it either.

“So here’s the New Zealand First deal; repeal the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013,” Mr Peters said.

ENDS

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