A Citizens' Select Committee in Ohariu

The government is currently planning to privatise our three state-owned electricity generators, plus Air New Zealand and Solid Energy. But in order to do so, they need a majority in Parliament. United Future leader Peter Dunne's vote is crucial to that majority. But voters in his electorate aren't too happy about him supporting that - so they're setting up their own Citizens' Select Committee to investigate it:

On the 1st of March a public meeting at the Johnsonville Community Centre, at 7:45pm. NZ Council of Trade Unions economist Bill Rosenberg will be making a presentation on the sale of state assets and the implications of free trade and investment agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Peter Dunne will be invited to attend the public meeting. This public meeting will appoint the committee members, who will then be calling for public submissions on asset sales and the TPPA. Last year the Government refused a request to hold a Parliamentary Select Committee on the TPPA.

Written submissions will be invited, and oral submissions will be heard at the Johnsonville Community Centre on Thursday 22 March.

The initial meeting is at 19:45 on 1 March at the Johnsonville Community Centre, on the corner of Frankmoore Ave and Moorefield Road. Submissions to the committee can be sent to:

The Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
P O Box 13 367
Johnsonville
Wellington 6037

If our MPs won't do this sort of community consultation, then other people will have to do it for them. And if they vote against the expressed wishes of the community, they deserve to pay a heavy price at the next election.