45,000 more signatures

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, July 8th, 2013 - 46 comments
Categories: national, Privatisation - Tags: ,

Like other recent calls for citizen initiated referendums, the referendum on asset sales was deemed to need more signatures after the initial submission. The eight week window to gather more signatures is now over, and the new signatures will be presented to Parliament today. Lots of them:

Asset petition gathers 45,000 more names

Opponents of the Government’s asset sales programme say they have gathered more than 45,000 new signatures to bump the petition over the threshold for a referendum.

After coming up about 16,500 valid signatures short two months ago, the Keep Our Assets coalition, which includes Labour, the Greens and other opposition parties, along with Grey Power, will present the newly gathered signatures to the Clerk of the House of Representatives tomorrow.

16,500 needed, 45,000 submitted, hopefully after inspection it will be enough to do the trick.

Coalition spokesman Andrew Campbell says that despite the Government already selling 49 percent of Mighty River Power, there was still public enthusiasm to stop further sales of power companies. “You might have thought there would be some weakening of resolve, but we found people were still as committed to getting this referendum,” he told NZ Newswire.

Stupid ideas are always worth opposing, whether the government of the day is half way through implementing them or not. The referendum isn’t binding of course, but other factors may yet derail the remaining sales:

Mr Campbell said the Government’s plan to sell up to 49 percent of power companies was in trouble. The Government would struggle to sell more power company shares as MRP shares were not snapped up by “mum and dad” investors the share price had dropped since the sale, Mr Campbell said.

MRP shares initially went on sale at $2.50 each but are now worth $2.29. On the Australian stock exchange they have dropped from $A2.16 to $A1.97.

You’d have to be a mug to invest in the Nats’ next planned Meridian sale – and they know it, having resorted to desperate tactics to try and drum up interest.

Congratulations to all involved in putting pressure on the government on this issue, and particularly to the organisers and volunteers who collected an amazing number of signatures. The chickens aren’t hatched yet, but either way it has been an amazing effort.

46 comments on “45,000 more signatures ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. infused 1
    8 July 2013 at 9:30 am

    Should have had them all first go. That would have had some impact.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 1.1
      8 July 2013 at 10:04 am

      Silly – the impact will be delivered by the result, which will show just how out of touch with New Zealand you are.

      • infused 1.1.1
        8 July 2013 at 2:52 pm

        Errr, Labour at 30%. I’m not the one out of touch.

        • framu 1.1.1.1
          8 July 2013 at 3:01 pm

          no – the fact youve equated two completely different things proves youve got your finger on the pulse of the nation

  2. James 2
    8 July 2013 at 9:42 am

    Too Little. Too Late.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1
      8 July 2013 at 11:17 am

      Too late for the 2011 election, that’s for sure. Not too late for the next one though. The timing should be just right in fact 🙂

      Oh, and all straws are “little”, but the camel’s spine still snaps.

  3. Te Reo Putake 3
    8 July 2013 at 9:54 am

    Excellent work! I would expect the majority of the 45000 new signatures will be accepted, because both collectors and the public understand the process better. The great thing is that the issue doesn’t go away for National. For the second election in a row, they will have to advance their pro sales position against the wishes of the majority of kiwis. And I confidently predict National will again fail to get a mandate for the sales.

    • TighyRighty 3.1
      8 July 2013 at 10:18 am

      But you can’t confidently predict that national will lose the election. Which is in effect not gaining a mandate anyway. So you can’t confidently predict anything without looking like a twat.

    • BM 3.2
      8 July 2013 at 10:21 am

      Assets sales vs Man ban.

      Ding, ding “And it’s a knock out win to asset sales in the first round.”

    • Rich the other 3.3
      8 July 2013 at 10:26 am

      They already have a mandate and you know it, they won an election with this as their main policy and what’s more they will easily win the next election.

      You seem to forget that stopping asset sales labours main policy at the last election, they got thumped.

      • Te Reo Putake 3.3.1
        8 July 2013 at 10:43 am

        Oh, dear. Have you forgotten the result of the election already Rich? National didn’t get an outright majority, hence no mandate. They were, however, able to get enough votes to pass the sales legislation with the assistance of ACT, who campaigned for the sales, and United Future, who did not. Parties opposed to the sales fell just short of a majority. That may well change next time around, especially now that the referendum will be a live issue at the same time.

        • dumrse 3.3.1.1
          8 July 2013 at 11:11 am

          Straws. Clutching. Wildly……

        • Disraeli Gladstone 3.3.1.2
          8 July 2013 at 8:44 pm

          Oh for crying out loud.

          United Future campaigned on supporting the asset sales of the energy SOEs and Air NZ while also campaigning on opposing any further sales beyond those companies.

          I don’t mind the right lying out of their asses, it’s what they do. But I’m getting really sick of the centre and left resorting to lie and misinformation; we should be better than that.

  4. Sable 4
    8 July 2013 at 10:22 am

    Its all just dead trees, I’m afraid. This government has no interest in public opinion, they have shown this again and again and again.

  5. Rich the other 5
    8 July 2013 at 10:43 am

    I’m sure you man ban ,stop everything dreamers will love this.

    MRP up 6cents this morning, still down but and looking good.

    • the pigman 5.1
      8 July 2013 at 8:15 pm

      MRP up 6cents this morning, still down but and looking good.

      Your use of conjunctions still betraying hubris and or but insecurity.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    8 July 2013 at 11:00 am

    Petitions, the lowliest form of political activity, but the torys, “they don’t like it up ’em!” As Lance Corporal Jones said repeatedly. Who? “Dad’s Army” Brit Com.

  7. dumrse 7
    8 July 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Store the boxes safely till recycling day.

  8. framu 8
    8 July 2013 at 12:25 pm

    wow – extremely well constructed arguments from the right on this thread

  9. Yes 9
    8 July 2013 at 1:09 pm

    You guys keep going on about the down trodden and poor in the country and how the gap of equality is growing bigger – figure me this – why is it that John Key is over 60% popular.

    There are so many small fractional parties now I don’t know who to vote for:

    Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?

    • Te Reo Putake 9.1
      8 July 2013 at 1:16 pm

      Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?

      Probably not, Key is safe for now. But Collins is lurking.

    • Pascal's bookie 9.2
      8 July 2013 at 1:17 pm

      “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”

      Brilliant, and a bit of the old-answer-is-contained-within-the-question there.

    • framu 9.3
      8 July 2013 at 1:23 pm

      theres so many factors in play

      for a start your comparing two things that arent easily comparable in a soundbite driven environment

      but a few items that are in the mix
      1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation
      2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question
      3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country
      4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles
      5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans

      theres more that could be added here – but why does it even need to be pointed out? Is your knowledge of politics and society in NZ, both historical and contemporary really that lacking?

      • Yes 9.3.1
        8 July 2013 at 3:12 pm

        (comments in brackets)

        1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation (really!!! tell Gillard that in Australia)
        2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)
        3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country (stll 60%)
        4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles (which makes them really happy with John boy – still 60%)
        5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans (yep that plane keeps going up for John – as for Labour – they are as bumping as a plane landing in Wellington in reverse)

        • framu 9.3.1.1
          8 July 2013 at 3:17 pm

          your answers have only proven one of two things

          1) your really thick
          2) your being thick on purpose

          so, either attempt to show some comprehension in your answer, or at least admit you dont have a clue what your talking about.
          When the question you, yourself asked is “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular. “. Just saying “still 60%” over and over again doesnt actually prove anything other then reinforcing the assumption that your a clueless idiot or a tr0ll

          come on! – you stink up plenty of threads with you posturing and derailments – how about behaving like an educated adult for a change

        • framu 9.3.1.2
          8 July 2013 at 3:32 pm

          “2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)”

          just to highlight (and godwin myself a little) – heres the problem with this

          You live some years back in western europe and youve been rung up by a polling company. The question is “Who of the following would you prefer as ruler of europe – hitler, mussolini or stalin?”

          Now, if you choose none of the above your answer isnt counted – So do the poll results have an accurate reflection of any of the three candidates actual popularity? or does it more accurately reflect their popularity only in relation to each other, and only by not including the answers where some one didnt make a particular choice?

          • Yes 9.3.1.2.1
            8 July 2013 at 3:57 pm

            still 60%

            • framu 9.3.1.2.1.1
              8 July 2013 at 4:04 pm

              still not answering the question

              still thick?

              • Yes …
                8 July 2013 at 5:39 pm

                I did 60%. you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis very outdated.

                You should take their posters off your wall now. It’s sort of like saying cliff Richard never has had cosmetic surgery

                • framu …
                  9 July 2013 at 7:25 am

                  WTF are you even going on about? what the fuck does cliff fucking richard have to do with anything?

                  your not even making sense.

                  did you or did you not ask this question?
                  —-“why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”

                  yes/no?

                  so when someone attempts to have, you know, a civil discussion with you about what the answer to your question might involve, you just sit there and go “still 60%” and “I did 60%” (did 60% of what? 60% of all the crack??)

                  and if you hadn’t figured out yet – its a logic question, its designed to highlight the problem with assuming a question that asks you to pick from a list of choices is an indicator of actual feeling

                  I dont really give a shit what the % is, or whether you agree with me or not – but if the best argument youve got is to keep spouting a number all anyone can assume is either your not that bright, your about 3 years old, or your off your meds. Fucks sake – whats wrong with you?

                  Its as pointless and pathetic as your attempts at basic addition when your were stomping about the place trying to claim that union membership is only 6%. Crawl back under your rock now – go on – off you go

                  • Yes …
                    10 July 2013 at 4:34 am

                    I understand your logic…the polls show 60%.. you were trying to show that it maybe lower…I understand that. However it is not what the public is told. They are told 60%.

                    For completeness you are right.

                    For reporting the answer given to the public is 60%… so 60% is all we are ever going to know. So if you can get the pollsters to give the detail you are stuffed.

                    However the reverse is still the same for the other preferred pm’s. Therefore overall the average of the answers are correct which 60% of whatever number is still 60%.

                    Maybe you should ease off and accept the poll result

                • You_Fool …
                  9 July 2013 at 11:18 am

                  to clarify relevance of 3 dead dictators:

                  Question: Who is your prefered Prime Minister? John key, David Shearer, Russel Norman, Winston Peters or some one else?

                  Answer: Someone else

                  Question: Who would that be?

                  Answer: Anyone else

                  …

                  Analyst: category: unknown/did not say

                  Results: Do not include unknown

                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                  Is John Key still preferred by 60% of respondents?

                  • framu …
                    9 July 2013 at 11:48 am

                    no because of “Results: Do not include unknown”

                    you havent clarified anything at all (if this is still “yes” talking – your icon keeps changing so im only assuming its the same person here)

                    stop being stupid and stop side stepping around how a conversation actually works.

                    • You_Fool …
                      9 July 2013 at 12:25 pm

                      I am not YES, and I was trying to clarify the point for Yes… Or at least make his trolling more obvious…

                    • framu …
                      9 July 2013 at 12:47 pm

                      oh his trolling is pretty obvious – it doesnt need any help 🙂

                      but i will note that you didnt actually clarify anything, youve just posed the same logic question i did but with different names

                    • You_Fool …
                      9 July 2013 at 2:33 pm

                      i was replying to YES’s comment “you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis (sic) very outdated” by making the example more modern and NZ based; since YES seemed to miss the point of your quite obvious point.

                    • framu …
                      9 July 2013 at 3:38 pm

                      ahh – righto. My apologies – sometimes the reply chain gets a little confusing once it reaches its limit. 🙂

                    • felix …
                      10 July 2013 at 4:55 am

                      “Yes” didn’t miss anything.

                      “Yes” is wasting your time.

          • Murray Olsen 9.3.1.2.2
            9 July 2013 at 11:41 pm

            I’d pick Mussolini over Hitler or Stalin. The food would be better. Or was that a trick question?

    • the pigman 9.4
      10 July 2013 at 4:40 pm

      ^^ Oh, Yes. You’re very good at running the media/WO lines but in this case you seemed to be on the “coup rumor” du jour a lot faster than anyone else.

      I am really intrigued…

  10. dave 10
    8 July 2013 at 6:31 pm

    we have in the bag even with a 30 percent failour rate we have the numbers. watch the might river share price thats the best opinion poll.

  11. millsy 11
    8 July 2013 at 10:24 pm

    Should really put more effort into keeping the ones we have left.

  12. georgecom 12
    9 July 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Can someone explain to me why a number of right wing contributors on this subject seem so worried about having a public vote on asset sales?

    Surely if asset sales in such a good idea, Key has such a strong mandate and so many people are in favour, then a public vote would show that? Surely?