Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

There are 1257 state-owned properties in Tauranga ready to be sold off to the highest bidder as part of a government pilot program aiming at selling off more state-owned assets.

Roughly 65 per cent of these state-owned houses are occupied by single parents and elderly, which are among our society's most vulnerable.

Caring for society's most vulnerable is the state's responsibility and is not to be palmed off to foreign corporations in the hopes that they will fulfil the state's role. Foreign ownership of state-housing is exactly what we will have, as two Australian companies eye up the state's housing portfolio. Whatever their merits, placing essential state services in the hands of corporations is dangerous, and giving away state assets is irresponsible. We cannot allow China, Australia or any other country to carve up New Zealand for their personal gain.

Whatever decisions the government is planning to make, needs to be communicated honestly and with finality. The government has released what they are calling a final memorandum on the transfer of state housing in Tauranga and the first page is a 662-word disclaimer basically stating that the government is not bound to do any of the things the document goes on to say it will do...

This makes it probable that we won't actually know just what the government is going to do until they have already done it. Although this modus operandi is exactly what we have come to expect from this government, it is wholly unacceptable.

We, at New Zealand First, are calling for the retention of state-owned assets and expect this government to repair and maintain these properties to a suitable standard. We expect this government to have transparency and openness in all aspects of decision-making, which is required for effective democracy, something this government has long since lost sight of.