The Overseas Investment Office has amended their report on the Westpac Farms formerly owned by the Crafar family and given it to the ministers responsible for making the decision, Jonathan Coleman and Maurice Williamson.
There is a great deal of whinging out there about the deal because some think it is the government selling the land. It is not, it is Michael Stiassny the receiver who is selling the land.
This is highly ironic considering he gave a donation to Andrew Little in his forlorn attempt to win new Plymouth.
However the two ministers need not fear much. When fevered pinkos such as Tim Watkin say:
What should the government do? Should it approve Shanghai Pengxin’s $200 million offer for the 16 farms? Of course it should; and it will. As the law stands, it’s right and proper. Sure, Justice Forrie Miller’s ruling may have raised the bar, forcing foreign investors to offer more benefits to New Zealand than previously. But nothing he said should be sufficient to scupper the deal.
…then you know the argument is over.
Or is it?
Word has reached my ears that Jonathan Coleman has gone squirrelly on the deal. It seems he is worried about his electorate vote going south. He is obviously deluded and easily swayed by lippy pinkos on TV and radio. On the election results he has a majority of 9.379 and National won the party vote by 8,999.
Jonathan Coleman needs to remember that in two years time the voters of Northcote electorate will have forgotten he was one of the approving ministers. He must be mindful of all New Zealanders in making his decision not just the vocal minority in his electorate. That is why he is in the big job…to make tough decisions.
While the voters of Northcote electorate will most certainly forget he was a deciding minister there are others amongst us that won’t forget cowardice in the face of duty. Going squirrelly isn’t an option.
