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January 29, 2025
Māori legal challenges brewing over state asset sales
Claudette Hauiti
Posted On January 29, 2025
Download AudioSenior Māori Labour MP Willie Jackson says the National Party faces potential legal challenges from Māori if its proposal for selling state assets proceeds in the next election.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hinted that National will campaign on asset sales next year, stating that an election win in 2026 would provide the mandate needed to push ahead with the plan.
Jackson says he would be surprised if Māori did not challenge asset sales if they were to proceed, including a Māori counterpart opposing him in the House.
“You’ve heard the angst and we’ve had the terrible experience in terms of privatization. It’s pretty interesting to see what Winston Peters thinks, given New Zealand First has rallied for years against those types of policies. So I think his view would be fascinating,” Jackson says.
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters, who has opposed privatization for decades, may find himself at odds with both coalition partners over this issue.
Christopher Luxon has ruled out selling state assets this term but says he is open to a wider conversation with voters at the next election and potentially pursuing asset sales in the following term.
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