MEDIA RELEASE: Aotearoa is Not For Sale Nelson (#ANFS)
Date: Monday 22 April 2012
Status: For Immediate Release

People Power to Protest Planned Asset Sell-off

A broad coalition of community activists in the Nelson and Tasman regions are working together to organise a march this Saturday 28th April, to protest against the National-led government's plans to sell off New Zealand's precious state-owned assets.

Aotearoa is Not For Sale Nelson spokesperson Rachel Boyack said the event, timed to coincide with actions in Auckland and throughout the North Island, was being organised by local community activists representing many different organisations, which showed the deep concern New Zealanders have towards the government's planned mixed ownership model.

Rachel Boyack says that many New Zealanders, from many walks of life are becoming increasingly frustrated with the government's failure to listen to the people over the country's economic direction. "New Zealanders are seeing multiple examples of the government selling away our economic future, including the sale of publicly-owned profitable assets, the Crafar Farms deal, the sale of harmful gambling laws to big business and the widespread welcome mat given to overseas mining and oil drilling companies."

A recent One News Colmar Brunton poll showed at least 60 per cent of voters oppose the sale of state assets, while TV ONE'S Te Karere poll of 1000 Maori voters showed a whopping 88 per cent were against the planned sales.

Of particular concern is the potential economic loss to the country arising from the sales. "Finance Minister Bill English has admitted he isn't certain how much the assets will be sold for," Rachel Boyack says. "The government's own calculations show a loss of $100 million a year if the assets are sold."

It is also of great concern that many shares in our power companies could end up being owned by foreigners. "New Zealanders already own these assets. Most kiwis won't be in a position to buy shares under a mixed ownership model. The people who own these assets have not given permission for them to be sold, and we are standing up to the government and saying 'no!'"

Marchers will meet at Millers Acre at 12pm, and proceed up Trafalgar St to the 1903 site, where local leaders from Nelson and Tasman will address the protestors. All political parties have been invited to attend and outline their party's position on the asset sales. The protest will have a community feel, with several stalls, information on how people can get involved in the campaign, and entertainment.

"We hope to have hundreds of people from across the Nelson Tasman region join us on Saturday, to show the National-led government that New Zealanders are strongly opposed to the selling of assets that they already own. The people are saying they do not agree with the government's direction. It is time they stop ignoring the voices of the people."

The campaign has been endorsed by a number of New Zealand Political Parties and Organisations, including the Labour Party, Green Party, New Zealand First, Mana Party, Greenpeace, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Service and Food Workers Union, Maritime Union and Actors' Equity.

ENDS

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