Media release from Keep Our Assets
The Government needs to give those New Zealanders who have taken the time to sign the petition opposing the sale of our state owned assets some respect, Grey Power President and Keep Our Assets spokesperson Roy Reid said in Wellington today.

The Keep Our Assets coalition which opposes the Government’s plans to sell New Zealanders’ state owned assets have collected 393,000 signatures. The coalition today presented its petition to the Clerk of Parliament, triggering a citizens-initiated referendum on the Government’s asset sales programme.

“The Keep Our Assets coalition has today presented the biggest ever citizens-initiated referendum petition to the New Zealand Parliament,” said Mr Reid. “Those in Government should stop making snide remarks regarding bogus signatures.

“Thousands of New Zealanders have given up their free time to go out and collect these signatures and hundreds of thousands more people have signed the Keep Our Assets petition.

“Sadly, the Government is hell-bent on pushing through their assets sales program as fast as possible,” Mr Reid said. “They should instead take a pause and organise a referendum so that all New Zealanders are able to have their say on this issue.

“Rather than selling off New Zealand’s assets in a fire sale, the Government needs to devote time and resources into organising a referendum that maximises voter turnout.

“The Government must listen to the overwhelming number of New Zealanders opposed to their asset sales plans.

“Having the privilege of the Treasury benches shouldn’t mean ramming through an unpopular asset sales program with a majority of one,” Mr Reid said.

Wellington.Scoop
The citizens-initiated referendum petition to stop asset sales was formally presented to the Clerk of Parliament in Wellington today.

A procession of petitioners left from the Cenotaph on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street at 12.30pm and moved up to the steps of Parliament where the petition was handed over.

Participants included Grey Power President and Keep Our Assets petitioner and spokesperson Roy Reid, Keep Our Assets spokesperson Arena Williams, Labour Party leader David Shearer, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, Mana leader Hone Harawira, andCouncil of Trade Unions Secretary Peter Conway.