Tauranga residents are among thousands of people to have signed an online petition against the sale of state owned assets.
The link to the online survey is being circulated among Bay of Plenty Facebook users with a recent posting on Freebies and Swaps Tauranga encouraging people to sign the petition.
The Green Party's Keep Our Assets road show visited Red Square in Tauranga this week.
The online petition has more than 16,000 signatures, with more names being added every second.
The petition states: 'John Key is planning to ram controversial asset sale legislation through parliament – against advice of economists. But we can create a massive public outcry to stop the sale of our key services, and tell John Key that our country is not for sale.”
Organisers of the petition feel the partial privatisation of Mighty River Power, Genesis, Meridian and Solid Energy is a 'bad deal for New Zealand”.
If 25,000 signatures are collected by the end of the day the petition will be presented to John Key with a giant 'Aotearoa: Not For Sale” price tag.
Organisers of the online petition say more than 75 per cent of people polled oppose the plan.
An alliance of community groups led by Grey Power and backed by the Labour and Green parties took the first steps towards a Citizens Initiated Referendum on partial asset sales in early-March.
A total of 307,000 signatures are needed to force the referendum.
People wanting to sign the petition can do so at:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Oppose_NZ_Asset_Sales/?fhatidb&pv=55
7 comments
Mandate to sell our assets???
Posted on 14-06-2012 13:59 | By ronillian
It seems pretty clear that the government does NOT have a mandate to sell any part of the public's assets: the profitable energy companies and Air New Zealand. A vote for the National Party in the 2011 election can not and should NOT be interpreted as an endorsement of this agenda to sell off our assets. This is an important decision that even heavyweight economists' group BERL said would leave NZ's economy in a worse position than before. And opinion polls seem to confirm that the govt does not have that mandate. For an important decision like this the govt should not be afraid to test their mandate and give all Kiwis a say in what happens with our assets. I was very happy to sign both petitions 1.to call for a Citizens Initiated Referendum to test the mandate, and 2. the one at the link at the bottom of this article. Thank you Sunlive for your coverage of this important issue.
What a dumb petition.
Posted on 14-06-2012 15:08 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
When you have a debt even the simplest of people know that it must be paid back or at least reduced. This means that to keep on living (Ie spending) funds must be raised. If you go broke because you run out of income but the mortgage has to be paid you are ususlly required to go out a raise some money by all means available.In this case the Government is prepared to sell part of its assets to NEW ZEALANDERS as a means of raising funds. The alternate is to raise taxes. How would all the sheep followers who are following the mindless goats like an increse in taxes. Say ten to fifteen cents in the dollar, off your income and more from say GST if that were not enough. Think before you sign a mindless petition. Dont be a follower. Stand up and be counted and buy some shares in New Zealand.
Dumb?
Posted on 14-06-2012 15:15 | By Otters
So who is being dumb here? The very assets the Government wants to sell are those that bring in revenue. To sell them will bring a quick burst of money - followed by - nothing. And, as a New Zealander, I already own these assets. Why should I have to buy them?!! I can't afford to rebuy back my own assets. Asset sales disenfranchise the poor even further and put more in the pockets of those who have the spare cash to buy them.
Abuse rather than discussion
Posted on 14-06-2012 15:57 | By ronillian
@weeted: describing the 75% of people who oppose the sale of assets as dumb, mindless goats and followers, will not help your cause any! A debt crisis may be offered as justification but even authoritative credible economists are opining that this sale will make NZ's economic position WORSE. Yes a citizens Initiated Referendum would indeed allow Kiwis an opportunity to "stand up and be counted" (your own words)though I daresay it may not be the result that you'd welcome.
Save us from wreckers.
Posted on 14-06-2012 19:15 | By Hiwinui
If you want an example of partially privatised versus publically owned just compare Port of Tauranga(partially privatised) with Ports of Auckland (wholly publicaly owned). That tells the real story. We had a referendum last November. It was very clear. Many thought National would blow it by making the asset sales the major issue. Despite the current activism it was clear that this was a less important issue than many others. There is a major campaign underway to try to ensure the Government cannot make the decisions to improve our economy. Then these same people will blame the government if our situation worsens.
wreckers?
Posted on 14-06-2012 23:19 | By Otters
Mr Hiwinui, only 33% of people eligible to vote voted for National - and many national suppoters are against asset sales. And asset sales will NOT help the economy - the revenue from these assets will be lost and the proceeds will only provide a drop in the bucket to pay debt. Economic disaster - and this is not just my view, but that of many leading economists. National just does not have the intelligence or vision to come up with real answers.
Online petition validity
Posted on 15-06-2012 09:51 | By bringa
If you sign the online petition, does your name count towards the 300,000 needed? Is it the same petition? I have my doubts
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