Further marches today against asset sales

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Further marches against asset sales

3News NZ

Protesters in Auckland gathered at the city’s waterfront, preparing to march up Queen Street at about 2:30pm (Photo: Amanda Gillies)

Protesters in Auckland gathered at the city’s waterfront, preparing to march up Queen Street at about 2:30pm (Photo: Amanda Gillies)

Christchurch locals are being urged to join nationwide peaceful protests this afternoon against the partial sale of state assets.

Aotearoa Is Not For Sale has organised the march down Riccarton Road to send a clear message to the Prime Minister saying that his Government is not listening to New Zealanders.

Spokesperson Sharna Butcher says the Government is looking for a quick-fix money solution, and should remember they are guardians of the country.

“They’ve been entrusted with the governorship of this land, not to give or squander it away,” she says.

The group joined at 2pm today at Hagley Park before marching down Deans Avenue and Riccarton Road.

Marches were also planned in at least 11 places around the country, including Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.

Protesters in Auckland gathered at the city’s waterfront, preparing to march up Queen Street at about 2:30pm.

About 50 people were at Nelson’s Trafalgar Square this morning voicing support for the marches.

The campaign has been backed by the Labour Party, Green Party, Mana Movement, Council of Trade Unions and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

Two weeks ago the Mixed Ownership Model Act was passed by the Government, allowing up to 49 percent sale of Mighty River Power, Meridian, Genesis and Solid Energy.

The partial sale of Mighty River Power may begin as early as September.

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Comments

16/07/2012 9:38:05 p.m.

Lani Mitchell wrote:

Mike, GST is a tax across the board, so the point remains, our highest income-'earners' are not paying their fair share in tax. Our so called 'progressive' and fair tax system abruptly stops being progressive once you hit $70,000. Other OECD countries have an upper tax bracket and a much higer rate (UK = 50% , Australia = 45%) AND a GST or VAT tax as well. And a lot of those people earning over $70,000 don't 'invest' it in ways that benefit our economy at all: they tuck it into trust funds or put it into risky market investments like the Canterbury Finance Company, increase reckless speculative activity, and then those of us who actually pay our fair share in tax foot the bill for their risky market speculation.

16/07/2012 9:35:50 a.m.

Mike wrote:

If this is a popular protest?

We have a few hundred turn out in Auckland.

Compare it to the rich mans sport - America Cup which had over 350,000 turn up for Peter Blake and Team NZ going down the street.

Thats not a popular protest - its an embarassment to call it a protest! Look at all the signs and you can see the political taint of the protest in the signage. If they can't organise a sizable protest, I definately wouldn't want them near our countries finances. Oh wait, they were back in 2008 pre-election when ACC/Kiwisaver directed investment lost $29 billion! Why sell an asset when you can give it away to crooks under Labour/Greens?

@Lani A capital gains tax? We already have a capital gains tax in NZ for anyone who trades has to declare it as income. We could lower the levels further to tighten the rules more. Eg capital gains on shares for someone who buys/sell shares is income, so taxable. Someone who sells homes built is taxed on the income (capital gains). This means a capital gains tax wont change things much. With the exceptions Labour is talking, they are actually talking of making exclusions to capital gains tax which are currently taxed as income tax! How many dinners did that cost to buy Labours policy?

NZ tax is not just 33% as we also have GST. If someone spends all their money that 33% converts to 42% with GST. If include Kiwisaver etc its even higher.

What happens if they dont spend all the money? Well it just so happens that capital investment comes from the so-called rich. Ie what isn't spent is generally invested. Your suggested increase to top end taxation, you also cut into capital investment, which is not as good for NZ. NZ is under capitalised, so that leaves overseas capital more under Labour than National.

NZ is against subsidies to business etc. Fine. But why do we subsidise so much welfare? If your against subsidies this should be ALL subsidies including excessive welfare.

15/07/2012 10:17:10 p.m.

Baxter wrote:

If National truly think the majority of the country want these asset sales, then why are they scared of putting it to a referendum? I suspect the answer is that National are well aware that the majority of the country don't want these asset sales. Too bad for democracy.

15/07/2012 12:37:00 p.m.

Lani Mitchell wrote:

Andrew, a couple of alternatives: firstly, making our so-called 'progressive' tax system apply to those earning above $70,000. $70,000 is the lowest cut-off rate for high income earners, and 33% is the lowest tax rate for this uppermost bracket, in the entire OECD, meaning that our highest income earners simply are not paying their fair share in tax. Secondly, introduce a capital gains tax. It simply does not make sense that we do not tax profits made on things like speculation on housing and markets. Like our tax system, our failure to tax capital gains benefits the wealthiest in this country at the expense of everyone else. This Government appears not to be interested in economic alternatives that are fair across society though, instead its selling off publicly owned assets so that those with disproportinate levels of wealth have more things to speculate on and make yet more wealth on. The alternative to all this greed, Andrew, is simply fairness.

15/07/2012 10:10:23 a.m.

Seannachie wrote:

All Power consumers of Mighty River Power need to switch power companies prior to the share float as the partial privatisation will increase their power bills by up to $285 per annum.Time to vote with your feet to end this rort by the Government.Time to end the $16 billion pa tax cuts for the rich and let us keep our power companies,keep our health services, and end the cuts and increased charges in our education system.

14/07/2012 8:51:23 p.m.

jim wrote:

The assets generate capital themselves. Keeping them makes more economic sense than selling them.

14/07/2012 6:44:04 p.m.

andrew harris wrote:

@Sharma Butcher, can you please post your economic alternative? Tell me this Sharma, with over $60 Billion in kiwi mortgage bonds as security on NZ borrowing and no money left in the EQC funds how can NZ generate capital? I don't want to hear any fluffy hypothesis, present an alternative as so far your protest group has nothing.

14/07/2012 5:20:08 p.m.

David wrote:

John Key is an inappropriate guardian... he's an asset stripper... its all he has ever done. Giving him guardianship is like handing over the keys to the booze cabinet to a chronic alcoholic.

14/07/2012 4:26:01 p.m.

jt wrote:

Good effort but John Key is not listening. Need to take more lessons from the Greeks.