John Key promised not to sell Kiwibank 'ever'

John Key made a clear undertaking before the last general election, that there would never be a sale of Kiwibank, even if National won a further term in government, says Jim Anderton MP for Wigram and Progressive Party leader.

“Since the Budget, the government has said its promise not to sell Kiwibank was only good for its first term. But on several occasions before the election, John Key personally insisted that the promise was permanent.

The Dominion Post after TV3 leaders debate 4 November 2008

John Key answers readers’ questions in The Dominion Post 22 October 2008:
“You made a statement on television that your government if elected will not sell Kiwibank in its first term of office. Does that mean that you do intend selling Kiwibank eventually?” (Carol Aldridge, Porirua)

‘I am ruling out selling Kiwibank at any point in the future.’ John Key

The Dominion Post 4 November 2008, following TV3 leaders' debate – 5 days before the election:
“Mr Key said he would not sell Kiwibank - and when asked if that meant ‘ever’ responded: ‘No, I’ve ruled it out’.”

The Press 4 November 2008
“John Key ruled out National selling Kiwibank at any stage ‘never....we’ve ruled it out.’”

Jim Anderton says: “John Key’s current position on Kiwibank is a broken promise. If he had used the weasel words he is now using in answer to these questions during the election campaign, the issue would have turned into a major campaign fiasco for National. He said one thing to get elected and now he is saying something else. That is flat out untrutworthy.

“Shares in Kiwibank should not be floated because it’s doing a great job. It’s making money, and because we own it, those profits go straight back into the New Zealand economy. John Key needs to come clean and tell us - did he mislead the electorate or is this another policy U-turn?” says Jim Anderton.

ENDS

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