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Govt to consult Maori on asset sales

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Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:48a.m.

Finance Minister BIll English

Finance Minister BIll English

The Government is going to consult Maori on the law changes it needs to make so it can partially sell four state-owned power companies.

Finance Minister Bill English says it's fulfilling a promise it made when the asset sales policy was announced before last year's election.

"We want to understand Maori views before we take final decisions," he said.

There's no doubt the partial sales will go ahead. Prime Minister John Key has confirmed that since the election.

New legislation is needed so that 49 percent of shares in each of Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power and Solid Energy can be sold.

Some iwi have said they should be given preference but Mr Key has ruled that out.

State-owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall says the consultation won't cover specific investment opportunities but iwi investment on a commercial basis will be welcomed.

"The Government has promised all New Zealand investors they will be at the front of the queue for shares," he said.

Mr English and Mr Ryall are going to hold nine hui around the country, starting on February 8.

NZN

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Comments

01 Feb 2012 08:24p.m.

Wikitoria Timu wrote:

Hee, hee, Carol, that's a fair enough question, I am of the opinion that the reason is S9 that is halting the partial Sales.... Don't worry, it's a farce, a show if you will, it will be by no means "consultation" I guarantee you all that! Up until now I guess, Maori were the only people attempting to up-hold Te Tiriti o Waitangi that they neither wrote or indeed translated.... Maori merely signed the document....

27 Jan 2012 01:32p.m.

sean wrote:

History:
Follow the Treaty of Waitangi. If we pakeha follow the Treaty we will take NZL forward. The New Zealand GOVT is control by overseas financial institutions. American is waking up to the fact they never gained full independence in 1776. The US Federal reserve is owned by an Englishman, not the US Government. Ben Bernanke has more control over New Zealand than john key.

27 Jan 2012 12:43p.m.

wairemana pepene wrote:

Maoris dont have to sing anything because we are tangata whenua and all we have to do is sit back and watch all the pakeha's do there money making,earing wages, building house's ,shops ,malls,motaways,more motaways like heres a fact why should we pay to travell up to the northland what happend to this country being a free country to travel it seems to me that maori's ant doing the wrong its you guys changing everything which stuffs up all the time. Hope you guys no what you'r doing because one day you guyd will meet you'r match.

27 Jan 2012 12:25p.m.

Carol wrote:

Why are only Iwi being consulted (offered) to invest into SOE's (in fact it is the power companies)? This is racism in reverse! Whay are not ALL Kiwi's being offered to invest in the SOE's??