New Zealand PM defends state asset sales amid public disapproval

 New Zealand Prime Minister John Crucial defended his plans for partial privatization of state assets right after a minimum of 3 polls showing public disapproval from the proposals.

Key told TVNZ's Breakfast system Monday that his ruling National Party, at present in power with three minor parties, would campaign on the "mixed-ownership model" asset sale strategy in the course of the November election.

His comments came following TVNZ 1 News Colmar Brunton Poll Sunday showed support for National down to 52 % from 54 % last month, although the principle opposition Labour Party remained unchanged at 34 percent.

The state assets sales policy proposes the sale of up to 49 % of state-owned power companies Mighty River Power, Meridian Power, Genesis Power and Solid Power and reducing the government's 75-percent stake within the national carrier Air New Zealand.

Finance Minister Bill English announced within the Price range on Might 19 that the sales would go ahead subsequent year if the National Party wins the common election.

English said the sales would raise five billion to 7 billion NZ dollars (four.09 billion to 5.72 billion U.S. dollars), helping to turn about the country's record deficit of 16.7 billion NZ dollars and to return the nation to a surplus by 2014-1015.

Even so, a new Zealand Herald-DigiPoll survey Friday showed a " significant majority" of New Zealand voters voiced disapproval of the program.

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