Waitangi Tribunal delivers another blow for asset sales

The National Government must listen to the Waitangi Tribunal's recommendation that asset sales not proceed, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.

The Waitangi Tribunal has recommended that the Government's asset sales programme not proceed until it can deliver its full findings in September. This is the latest in a series of setbacks that have afflicted National's drive to sell our energy assets.

"National must respect the recommendation of the Waitangi Tribunal," said Dr Norman.

"The Government must uphold the mana of the Waitangi Tribunal and not proceed with asset sales to give the Tribunal time to make its full findings.

"Pressing ahead now would invite expensive litigation from the Maori Council and iwi.

"The debacle over water rights is another reason - on top of the rising costs of sales and their negative impact on the economy - to drop asset sales altogether.

"A responsible government would drop asset sales and take the time settle the water rights issue with iwi in a respectful manner.

"Unfortunately, National has displayed a track record of ignoring all advice and common sense in its ideologically-driven pursuit of asset sales," said Dr Norman.