Political Patronage Inevitable With Govt Proposal

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today warned that New Zealand landowners could expect further confiscation of their property rights under the Labour Government.

"The foreshore and seabed issue has set a precedent for Labour to further expand its horizons to all land where a perceived public interest is identified - if only by a small section of our society," Mr Eckhoff said.

"The further theft of private property rights, whether owned by Maori or non-Maori, is fast becoming a hallmark of this Government.

"Carbon credits, private ownership of coastline and foreshore are just current examples. The word `principle' fails to appear in this Government's vocabulary. Vital investments in New Zealand's natural assets will be lost due to Labour's complete lack of understanding on the impact of confidence in security of investment when property rights are confiscated on a regular basis.

"Landowners should be afraid - very afraid - of political patronage that will develop where the Government will apportion special privilege based on political pay-back," Mr Eckhoff said.

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