Learn the Facts

The case for keeping our assets

Selling our assets is a bad plan for New Zealand.

Asset sales would mean power prices would go up, more profits would flow offshore to foreign buyers, and our government would have to borrow more to make up for the lost dividend income. It just doesn’t make sense to sell assets that are making good profits, which pay for public services like schools and hospitals.

National’s plan would mean losing public control over our electricity network, our energy resources, and our national airline. These assets were built up by generations of Kiwis. Losing control of them would mean losing control of our future because they would have to work for the interests of private investors, not in the interests of the country.

If the government sold 49% of the power companies, Solid Energy, and AirNZ, they would no longer be subject to social responsibility provisions in the State-owned Enterprises Act, which require publicly-owned assets to consider the impact of their actions on New Zealand communities. Instead, they would only have to maximise their profits.

Private ownership of our electricity and coal resources would reduce our ability to manage them in an environmentally responsible way. The profit motive of private buyers – especially those that don’t live in New Zealand and don’t share our love for our natural environment – would come first.

Governments experimented with asset sales in the 1980s and 90s, and it was a disaster for New Zealand. We don’t need to repeat that mistake.

What can I do?

You can download the paper petition, sign it and return it by post. This way, a referendum will be forced on this issue – and this is the public’s way to have their voice heard.

More information

More information click on the topics below:

• Economy

• National Heritage

• Social

• Environment