State assets: Key may 'water down' sales

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Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:30p.m. LATEST

Prime Minister John Key

Prime Minister John Key

By Jenny Suo

It seems it’s not easy to sell a party policy that revolves around selling state assets.

In a 3 News Reid Research poll, we asked 1000 voters if New Zealand should partially sell off some state-owned assets.

A total 60 percent of respondents said no, just 30 percent said yes.

But regardless of public opinion, Prime Minister John Key still wants to push ahead with the plan to sell up to 49 percent of three state-owned power companies as well as Solid Energy.

“It does show you that we’ve got a job to do, to make sure that New Zealanders understand the merits of this programme,” Mr Key said today.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bill English said the Government has no plans of changing its policy.

“We haven’t considered stepping back. We’ve gone through a pretty well-considered process to put this forward. It fits in with the focus of savings and investment.”

Labour says it’s not surprised by the result.

“It shows Kiwis are two-to-one against John Key’s programme,” says party leader Phil Goff.

“Kiwis know that this is bad for them as taxpayers and it’s good for foreign investors. They don’t want it.”

Mr Key and Mr English are not ruling out a watered-down proposal.

But for now, it’s up to them to convince the public, with the looming general elections in November at stake.

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Comments

22 Feb 2011 09:16a.m.

Kim wrote:

@Luke
John key was never a highly successful investment banker he was a money trader that basicly sucked money out of fresh air by buying currency when it was low and selling it when its high. Care to explain how that translates into a good CV for a PM?
Calling him an investment banker is like saying the office lady in a plumbing firm is a plumber

21 Feb 2011 09:17p.m.

abdullah wrote:

luke , these are the same type of people that stole billions of investors money. you want them to steal the country as well. gullible kiwi.

21 Feb 2011 03:26p.m.

Luke wrote:

It is a sad state of affairs when a highly successful investment banker and prime minister is not allowed to manage the assets and indebtedness of the country because of democracy. These lefties just look jealously and thing boo hoo he has Fifty million dollars and I don't, when you should realise that he is extremely talented and he wants you to have every opportunity to succeed. NZ needs to take the advice of the most talented not the demands of the least productive.

20 Feb 2011 10:51p.m.

insider wrote:

You have got it ONE Deane JK is a Sociopath, He loves talking about himself and loves other Sociopaths, The public are mere cattle to this Zionist!

20 Feb 2011 09:27p.m.

Mark wrote:

Re: not ruling out a watered down proposal. This is how politicians present unpopular policies. Make the first proposal very much more controversial than their actual intention. Seems to work, too. I can't see any possibility that any sales of what used to be public utilities having any benefit whatsoever to NZ-ers, generally. All that competition has achieved so far is increased power prices.

20 Feb 2011 01:59p.m.

James J Read wrote:

How sad that only a couple of writers are willing to be identified. Whilst several contributers raise valid points, it is difficult to take seriously the oppinion of somebody who hides their identity.Politicians are sadly always seen as legitimate targets by such people, who may or may not be well informed.

19 Feb 2011 03:38p.m.

heather wrote:

well said michele, this guy is no role model for our kids.

19 Feb 2011 09:26a.m.

Ruz wrote:

I have seen what happens when critical assets are sold and it rarely turns out for the benefit of New Zealand.

18 Feb 2011 04:17p.m.

newt wrote:

Flip, flop, flip, flop, John Boy Key is on the Hop,
Back flip, twist and turn, but you won’t win another term
We don’t want our assets sold
And you must do what you are told

You pout and sulk and chuck your toys
Won’t play with that Winston boy
Call the election nice and early
When you lose, cry like a girly

You can spin, you can lie, you can dream of days gone by
You can writhe, you can squirm, but you won’t win another term
Didn’t know about the Beamers?
You must think we’re total dreamers

You’ve told yourself you’re on a roll
So never mind the opinion polls
But don’t you listen, carry on
And come November you’ll be gone

Bye-bye Johnny Liar.

18 Feb 2011 12:38p.m.

michele wrote:

here we have a prime minister that lies and gets away with it. a role model for nz kids. if the PM can do it then why can't I. we must set an example for our kids and demand punishment or is a lie the nz way.
we should demand he stand down,why not.