Greens and VAN host NZ Not for Sale meeting in Lower Hutt

What: NZ Not for Sale public meeting hosted by Hutt South Greens and Valley Action Network

When: 7.45pm, Tuesday 19 April

Where: Petone Community House, 6 Britannia Street

Who: Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa Spokesperson Murray Horton

The Hutt South Greens and VAN - Valley Action Network will co-host a public meeting as part of the NZ Not For Sale Campaign at 7.45pm on Tuesday 19 April at Petone Community House. The guest speaker at the meeting is Murray Horton, Spokesperson for the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA). Mr Horton will discuss a range of issues including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and the dangers it poses to New Zealand, the current trend towards privatisation of public assets, the spread of transnational corporations, and how New Zealanders can fight back and protect their best interests.

"The TPPA is being negotiated in secret and could result in changes that hurt every New Zealander," Green Party Hutt South Candidate Holly Walker said.

"Although it has been billed as a free-trade agreement, trade is in fact only a minor part. It also covers foreign investment rules, empowers foreign companies to sue our government, opens our services to more international competition, restricts our right to regulate pharmaceutical costs and intellectual property rights, and prevents the use of government procurement to help local firms.

"For Hutt residents this could mean more expensive healthcare and medication, the loss of local jobs and industries, and no longer having the ability to have a say on decisions that affect us.

"The Green Party is very concerned about TPPA and its impact on New Zealanders. We are pleased to co-host this meeting and foster discussion of these issues in the Hutt South electorate," Ms Walker said.

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