Can this get any Groser?

Negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership continue in secret just days out from New Zealand's elections. Wellington's TPP Action Group is inviting everyone to join them this Wednesday 12 noon at Civic Square where they will present a Statement of Sovereignty to Green MP Catherine Delahunty, then march to the Governor General's residence. Te Tai Tonga MP, Rahui Katene, and economist with the Council of Trade Unions Bill Rosenburg will be among the speakers.

Organiser Mary Ellen O'Connor says it's time to tell the Government not to sell off New Zealand: 'just because the PM has his holiday home in Hawaii and wants to bring in food stamps for teenage solo mums, doesn't mean the rest of us want to become the 51st state of the US'.

These far-reaching 'free trade agreement' negotiations are being carried out in secrecy at the APEC leaders conference in Hawaii just days before our elections, and risk muzzling future governments, making a mockery of our New Zealand elections if the TPPA goes ahead.

Ms O'Connor explains that the TPP negotiations call into question the Government's claim that a majority stake ensures "we will never lose control'' with partial sale of state assets. Under investor clauses of so-called ‘Free Trade Agreements’, a foreign shareholding company from a participating country can sue a government for millions if the company suspects any government action will adversely affect their profits. There are already examples of global corporations suing the governments of Uruguay and Australia under the terms of treaties such as this.

Much of what New Zealanders value is at stake here. As just one example, last election, the PM decided to over-rule NZ's medicines funding agency Pharmac to buy the election with Herceptin, now leaked texts show Pharmac itself is now on the table in the TPP negotiations.

Ms O'Connor issues a challenge to Trade Minister Tim Groser and the Prime Minister: 'prove to us we can trust you, release the TPP text and tell us what you're doing to our country'.

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