Keep Our Assets Media Release

26 June 2012

100,000 Kiwis Sign up to Stop Asset Sales

The campaign to Keep Our Assets can officially confirm that more than 100,000 signatures have been collected in support of a citizens-initiated referendum on asset sales.

“The fact that so many New Zealanders have signed the referendum petition in just six weeks is evidence of how strong the opposition to the Government’s plan is,” said Keep Our Assets campaign spokesperson and Grey Power President Roy Reid.

“The claim that the public are warming to the idea of asset sales is nonsense. Kiwis do not want their assets sold. The message is coming through loud and clear. The Government must listen and put a stop to the sales.”

“John Key is skating on political thin ice with his plan to ignore the will of the people and push ahead with asset sales before a referendum is held.”

“The Prime Minister should get out on the streets and hear what people are saying when they sign the petition. New Zealanders from right across the political spectrum oppose this policy and it needs to be put on ice.”

“From Kaitaia to Bluff, New Zealanders are already rushing to sign the petition. Thousands of people are also putting their own time and energy behind the campaign by helping to collect and count the signatures.”

“The fight to keep our assets is not over just because legislation gets passed. There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before a sale can happen so we still have time.”

“The more New Zealanders who sign the petition now, the quicker we can initiate the referendum, and the harder it will be for the Government to push ahead with the sell-off. We are urging Kiwis to sign up and have their voices heard.”

“We thank them for their commitment and call on everyone to keep fighting. It is not over.”

“We’d also like to remind people that to have their names counted towards the citizens-initiated referendum, they must sign a physical copy of the Keep Our Assets petition. Online petitions do not count. Please don’t let your signature go to waste.”

“This issue is worth fighting for. These assets are crucial to our economic wellbeing. They belong to all of us and we must preserve them for future generations,” said Roy Reid.

ENDS

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