Fletcher Tabuteau MP
Spokesperson for Trade and Commerce

15 September 2015

English turned down meeting request with Silver Fern Farms

Finance Minister Bill English turned down a request to meet New Zealand’s biggest beef exporter Silver Fern Farms when it was seeking investment, says New Zealand First.

“This is shameful, especially as Silver Fern Farms has now had to turn to China for support,” says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Commerce and Trade Fletcher Tabuteau.

“Mr English claimed he was unable to attend the meeting, but he had a year to schedule a meeting.

“This standoffish approach to a New Zealand-owned company under stress to raise equity is appalling.

“It is disturbing also to know that the government’s priorities are overseas - it has just taken robbed the sale of state assets fund of $145 million and given it to the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Bank.

“That money will build infrastructure in Asia while Silver Fern Farms has to go begging to China for investment money.

“New Zealand-owned companies should come first when the government has money to invest,” says Mr Tabuteau.

ENDS

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