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Key unconcerned by threat to asset sales

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Key unconcerned by threat to asset sales

3News NZ

John Key is unfazed by the threat of Waitangi Tribunal to derail asset sales

John Key is unfazed by the threat of Waitangi Tribunal to derail asset sales

Prime Minister John Key has brushed off the threat the Waitangi Tribunal could derail the government's plans to sell off minority stakes in state-owned enterprises.

The Maori Council has been granted an urgent tribunal hearing over claims about Maori ownership of water, raising the possibility of the tribunal ruling out the sale of up to 49 per cent of hydro generators.

But Mr Key told reporters in Queenstown on Thursday the tribunal's rulings were not binding on the Crown.

"Previous governments have ignored their rulings in the past and this one might as well."

Mr Key did not believe it was a spanner in the works and said the council did not have overwhelming support from all Maori groups.

It was possible the sales could be halted somehow but the government would continue with the process as it believed it would benefit the country, he said.

North Island iwi Tuwharetoa has also launched a legal challenge to the sales.

Mr Key said the government would deal with challenges on their merits.

NZN

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Comments

12/05/2012 1:16:46 a.m.

David wrote:

Just to educate you a little as well Matt because your education doesnt seem all that sound. National got 47.31 percent of the vote ACT got 1.07 percent of the vote United future got 0.6 percent of the vote. That totals 48.98 percemt of the vote. http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/partystatus.html National are not governing because they won the election at all, they are governing because they did a dirty deal in epsom and cheated the result. 48.98 percent of the vote is not even a majority. National found a dirty politician in the form of John Banks and cheated the MMP system. National couldnt even reach 50% let alone the 51% you claim that they got. The Maori party wont vote for asset sales... so on this issue law will be passed by a minority vote which at its very core is anti democratic.

11/05/2012 10:20:21 p.m.

David wrote:

What I am saying Matty... is these assets belong to all kiwis not 34 percent of the population... to sell assets any government should always ensure they have at least 50% support (a moral mandate) of all elligible voters. And not run around like a little girl proclaiming they have support of the owners (us the tax payer) when they clearly dont. Argue a legal technicality Matty (or whoever)... But the one thing that you cant do is argue that Key has a moral mandate from the people... that requires majority support from all voters (not just the ones that turn out for the most pathetic election result in over 100 years). Call me whatever name you like Matty... I notice right wingers are good at name calling on this site... if the right wingers on this site are losing an argument they always resort to calling you something... unemployed, beneficiary, socialist. Take a pick if you like... deflection means you have no counter arguement. National were centre right Matty, they havent been centre right since the end of the 2009 election.

11/05/2012 7:52:55 p.m.

Matty wrote:

@ David. Are you sure you didn't change your name from Clarke? I'm getting a wicked Deja vu here. And my education is sound, as a majority result in electoral terms is 51% of the voter turnout.. ie 51% of the cast votes (not eligible). One last thing, National is centre-right, and I support them as I agree with their policy. If I was to move to the US, I'd support Obama (Left).

11/05/2012 2:20:35 p.m.

David wrote:

Actually Eddie the referendum was done in 2009 along with the general election that you say National "techincally" won lol Key was the one that ignored the results of that referendum. And as I quoted Ediie... but you are good at ignoring certain parts of a conversation... the 33 percent who didnt vote were against "all political parties" And there is not one reference in any of my arguments that states I am a labour supporter. But in no reality would I ever support the greed and self involvement of a right wing political party... particularly as they are generally too racist, sexist, greedy and retarded for my tastes. But continue to make assumptions and use falsehoods... right wingers are great at distorting reality.

11/05/2012 1:09:30 p.m.

eddie wrote:

@ David
OK...tell us , If Labour had won with same results as last election and were in same position as national are now, would you then take the position of 'we won, you lost, eat that' to quote Cullen? (a win is a win etc attitude), and if your answer is no...then with over 80% of the public against Anti Smacking, Clark ignored the referendum as over 310,000 were gathered. SHE/Labour have set the president of ignoring a referendum and at least National campaigned on Asset Sales almost a full year in lead up to election, Anti Smacking was on no election 'promise' and basically had NO mandate to be passed.

11/05/2012 9:56:45 a.m.

David wrote:

Just so that people are clearer Matty.... 34/100 in school is an "F" or "Fail" Only a dunce goes running around after a test going... man I got 34/100.. I win. Asset sales require a referendum, a binding referendum so that when Key gets the peoples answer he has to damned well respect it for once.

11/05/2012 8:43:42 a.m.

David wrote:

@Matty actually I can.. the electoral commission surveyed people who didnt vote... the majority answered by saying they didnt trust either party. A Majority by the way is 50+ percent of elligible voters... whoever taught you needs a good slap lol Stop being a National Party apologist Matty... or are you one of their paid stooges?

10/05/2012 11:58:29 p.m.

Matty wrote:

@ David. You can't just claim people didn't vote because they didn't like either. The most likely explanation is that they were too lazy or just didn't care.. Either way democracy did prevail in terms of the election. National made it extremely clear, that a vote for them was a vote for asset sales and that there would be no referendum. 34% voted for and 33% voted for other parties. That's a majority.

10/05/2012 5:59:39 p.m.

David wrote:

Yet Key doesnt have overwhelming support from anyone to do this either... and all Kiwis are concerned at a man who blatantly ignores what the majority wants and acts like a dictator instead of an elected head of state answerable to the people. 34 percent of the voting population voted him into power... 33 percent stayed home and 33 percent voted to the left... New Zealand is split into three factions... the left and right have equal support and the last group.. those who didnt vote just dont trust any of them... as reported by the electoral commission last month. But then a smart person wouldnt trust a crook like Key.

10/05/2012 5:43:29 p.m.

Erm... wrote:

Does no one believe in democracy in this country? WE HAD AN ELECTION, PEOPLE. Some of you are as bad as the Fijian military.