Key says there is confusion over asset sales

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Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:35a.m.

Mr Key says private shareholders, who are going to buy 49 percent of the power companies, can't be bound by the Treaty in the way the government is

Mr Key says private shareholders, who are going to buy 49 percent of the power companies, can't be bound by the Treaty in the way the government is

Iwi leaders will be able to talk through asset sales problems with Prime Minister John Key at Waitangi this weekend.

He says he'll use the annual commemoration of the signing of the treaty to explain the issue that's caused the Maori Party to threaten to walk away from its support agreement with the government.

"I'm going to raise it with them on the marae," Mr Key told reporters on Wednesday.

"There will be a lot of people who won't have understood the situation and will be bamboozled and confused by it all - the message they're hearing will be completely different to what is really happening."

The Maori Party has serious concerns about four power companies being removed from the State-owned Enterprises Act so they can be partially sold.

They will no longer be covered by clauses in the legislation which commits the government to act "in a manner consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi".

The Maori Party says that amounts to the government saying the treaty doesn't exist, which could mean the end of its confidence and supply agreement.

Mr Key says private shareholders, who are going to buy 49 per cent of the power companies, can't be bound by the treaty in the way the government is.

"The Crown isn't walking away from its treaty obligations," Mr Key said.

"We're dealing with practicalities here."

He believes a modified form of treaty clause can be worked out which will continue to bind the government but not have an impact on private shareholders.

"I would be surprised if this ends in tears. We can find a way through," he said.

NZN

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Comments

03 Feb 2012 08:18p.m.

jan.. wrote:

Key and the Government selling of stocks are saying that the Treaty and the Crown are non existing..
Without the Treaty and the Crown there's 'no Government'.. And a non existing Treaty means this country of Aotearoa New Zealand still belongs to the Tangata Whenuas..

02 Feb 2012 08:57a.m.

Gosh wrote:

It’s not proof of ownership for NZ, it’s a treaty. These assets didn’t exist when the treaty was 'created'. So any claim to rights over them is completely invalid.

01 Feb 2012 04:11p.m.

Maori Maiden wrote:

@rob, awsum support although i cant help thinking that the only peice of paper preventing the sale of our precious assets is the one that most nzers turned their backs on in the many years and events prior to now. its safe to say that the bed has been made, willingly or not and to disregard the treaty in past events has bought us to these. Is hypocritical for those too strong a word?

01 Feb 2012 12:46p.m.

Rob wrote:

It's a sad day for New Zealand. What I don't understand is, If we are living in a democracy, why is it we have no say in the decisions the powers that be make? That is in essence a dictatorship, is it not? Has anyone asked what vested interests may be at play here as well? There needs to be a greater level of transparency . If any investigative journalist worth his salt looked into this deeper I would wager that there may well be a conflict of interest to say the least. New Zealand, I love you, but come on, we deserve a Government that is run by the people for the people. Not a bunch of suits and ties who have financial and political gains and favors to make. I'm a Pakeha, but the Te Ao Maori model in my opinion should be adopted and adhered to. I hope I'm not alone in this line of thought. Wake up New Zealand! Before it's to late.