Let all Kiwis have their say on asset sales

John Key’s back-down on the timing of the sale of Mighty River Power shows that his asset sales plan is completely off the rails and should be scrapped, says Labour Leader David Shearer.

“National has botched this process from the very beginning. It had no choice but to delay the sale of Mighty River Power. There is now so much risk and uncertainty around it that no investor is going to want to touch it. Selling our best performing assets at rock bottom prices is economic lunacy.

“The real question now is if the Government can delay the process to negotiate with Māori, why can’t they delay it long enough to listen to all New Zealanders in a referendum? John Key claims he’s got a mandate – why not ask the people what they think of his asset sales plan?

“New Zealanders don’t want National to sell their assets, nor do they want a wrangle over rights in water. The only reason we are in this mess is because National is determined to  flog off our valuable assets as quickly as they can.

“John Key has hung his economic credibility on asset sales. That credibility is now in tatters,” said David Shearer.