Press release

6 May 2013

Asset Sales – Erosion of Democracy and Sovereignty

An Overhaul of Our Parliamentary System Is Required

No Asset Sales Protest At Parliament (7 May, 1pm)

A small group of concerned citizens will be staging a protest outside the gates of Parliament at 1pm tomorrow on Tuesday 7 May. This action is in opposition to this Governments intent on selling our state assets and ignoring the vast majority of New Zealanders who don’t want their assets sold.

“Something is fundamentally wrong with our so called democratic parliamentary system that enables a one-vote majority Government to legitimately steal assets off their rightful owners (all New Zealanders), against their will, and sell them” says Aotearoa is Not for Sale – Wellington spokesperson – Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati.

The sale of our State Assets is a treacherous act. It questions whether New Zealand is actually a democracy.  

“We challenge this Government and the Prime Minster John Key to front-up to us, the people, and tell us why they are selling our state assets and how this will benefit our country. This is the least they can do. They owe us an honest explanation” says Ms Paretutanganui-Tamati.

These assets have been sold under a shroud of deception, blatant assertion and lies. Asset Sales aren’t, as the Government has claimed, for the `mums and dads, likely to stay in NZ control or ownership, or pay off  state debt’.

This group advocates for a complete over-haul of the current Parliamentary system. We need a system of participatory democracy and an overriding constitution that is based on the best interests of the common people and our planet and holds elective representatives to account. We need systems that safe-guards our sovereignty, our lands, our rights, and essential strategic assets like power and water. That supports the provision of clean, renewable and affordable energy and honours Maori sovereignty.  

This group continues to support the occupation at the Cenotaph that ends this Friday and will be replacing the occupation with a peoples embassy.

James Whioke, who is leading the occupation, was part of the peoples embassy that was established at Parliament after the Land March of 1975. He is continuing his father’s legacy by staging this peaceful protest to secure a better future for this country and children.

ENDS

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