King Kapisi among asset sale protesters

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King Kapisi among asset sale protesters

3News NZ

Hip-hop artist King Kapisi was among the protesters in Auckland today

Hip-hop artist King Kapisi was among the protesters in Auckland today

By Amanda Gillies

Thousands of protestors have marched through the country's streets to protest asset sales.

Thirteen demonstrations, from Dunedin to Hokianga, were organised by a group called Aotearoa is Not for Sale.

The first of five state-owned enterprises is to be partially sold later this year, when shares of Mighty River Power are floated on the stock exchange.

“Do we want Aotearoa sold?” asked hip-hop artist King Kapisi today. “Say hell no, say hell no.”

 It was a message from the King to the Prime Minister.

“John Key, and this is my personal view, my personal view anyhow, what an idiot. That guy is an idiot.”

King Kapisi then did what he knows best – put his views into song.

“John Key I don't like you. It's not your colour, it's just your thought pattern is a little different to mine.”

The rapper then joined 3000 vocal protesters to oppose the partial sale of state assets. Armed with placards, they made their way slowly but loudly up Queen Street shouting “Aotearoa is not for sale”.

“So basically John, if we came up to your house and sold your house, how would you feel buddy?” asked Kapisi.

But Auckland was not a sole voice.

From Dunedin to the Hokianga, thousands of Kiwis vented their anger at the Government as it moves closer to selling down its share in four power companies and Air New Zealand.

The protestors urged New Zealanders to boycott Mighty River Power, the first to be partially sold, and not to buy its shares.

“I just don't think we should sell the country,” said one protester. “It's here for our future generations. It has been privatised into a few people’s hands. It's just not fair.”

The marches come as the Waitangi Tribunal considers a claim by the Maori Council over water rights. The hearing will continue on Monday.

The Tribunal is expected to release its findings in about a month.

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Comments

6/08/2012 12:37:22 p.m.

wakep wrote:

Austrian Economics versus Mainstream Economics

30/07/2012 8:21:28 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

What expecting of this country is the Tangata Whenua to Govern the Aotearoa New Zealand..
The Tagata Whenua has the skills to Self Govern including the equal rights of way to their treasures..
We all pay power bills and water rates, who owns them..

16/07/2012 2:18:37 p.m.

Austrian economics wrote:

Take Germany, Asset Sales is not accepted becuase 'Austrian economics' Take the rest of the world US/UK/JAP/AUS/IRL/SPAIN/Greece/SA They follow 'Neo-classical Economics becuase Govts have failed to protect there citzen from Bankers.

16/07/2012 1:58:14 a.m.

Tim Jacobsen wrote:

Hmm, so the people 'Pro' the asset sales think this has something to do with the economy? LOL This is to do with a business man making money off things he doesn't own in the first place. The only people who are 'really' better off with these types of things are rich people. What do you think will happen to electricity prices once it's sold? They will go UP! Who suffers when the price of stuff goes up? NOT THE RICH. What happens to a nations people when there is more inequality between one another? Crime goes up, production goes down, education goes down, 'state' policing goes up, intelligence goes down. Health goes down, the national hospital bill goes up... This is a test of how well we can look after one another, the results aren't looking very good are they. The better we look after one another, the better EVERYONE is, not just a minority of rich people. Go and do some research about countries which have high equality amongst their nation, you'll find they are far better off than the countries who have high inequality.. . . Problem here is you won't go research it because you think you are right and that's that. It's unfortunately how our human brains work once we think something, so it takes great courage and a strong mind to stand out and search for the truth. It's not physically challenging to stand back and take a look, it's just you can't bear to be wrong or think your way of living could possibly be wrong and feel attacked by such comments. Please try and prove me wrong, it will at least be one step in the right direction, that is.. to research....(start by Googling 'inequality gap') Afterwards you will have the opportunity to see that we need to focus on things as a nation which brings us together, that will bring our economy up in ways we've never seen!

15/07/2012 10:14:03 p.m.

Baxter wrote:

There is a very good reason National won't let the country have a say on asset-sales via a referendum: because they know as well as the rest of us do that the majority don't want these asset sales.

15/07/2012 9:17:25 p.m.

Joesphine wrote:

Our elders went to war to keep and land.we need a moari prime minster,to fight for our land,so heart breaking to see, go hard poeple of Aotearoa,,,

15/07/2012 8:19:19 a.m.

MRH wrote:

There were at least 2000 protestors, Iwas there, and some estimates from those watching on the side said there was up to 4000 at one time. I spoke to a police man on the side and he said that to me. Most people against the sales either did not hear about the protest in advance or did not want to spend the time doing it. The thing is, this was representing that majority of NZ-ers in two national polls who reported being against the sales. Also - there is no Herald report of this yesterday or today. They are choosing to cover up this stiory. Bad journalism and bias-ness. And yet there were 200 protestors in Wellington and they have coverage in the Dom Post.

15/07/2012 6:12:49 a.m.

It's our future wrote:

Be persistent. Do not give up on these marches. It's only going to get bigger if Key ignores you

15/07/2012 12:38:50 a.m.

Anonymous wrote:

I was at the protest today, and you really cant judge unless you really were there. I believe that John Key is ruining the future for our children By selling our assets.

15/07/2012 12:14:39 a.m.

Ryu wrote:

I think it's a silly argument to say that because only 3000 instead of let's say 4million people were on the street, that this somehow implies that the other 3,997,000 are in favor of selling. Perhaps they were at work? or sick or just didn't know like me? The fact that people are out to be heard repeatedly, in their thousands & throughout the country is indicative of a growing sentiment shared by a large number of NZrs, which is also reflected in the MOM Act votes 60-61 = 1,983,471 NZrs opposed. This reminds me of FPP and this sort of lack of effective representation is simply undemocratic. A Govt referendum should be held, we have the right as citizens to initiate a referendum however like the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations its findings would also be non binding.