Winston Peters

Wellington, May 23 NZPA - New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was stomping on familiar ground today when he gave a speech in Tauranga bemoaning the budget outcomes for elderly people and the foreign buy up of New Zealand assets.

Mr Peters said nothing in last Thursday's budget would help the young or the old.

Power bills, doctors bills, rates and everything else will go up and a "few extra dollars" a week in superannuation would not compensate for higher GST, he said.

"Elderly people have made their contribution, they are entitled to some comfort and peace of mind. Why should they be worrying how to make ends meet?"

The Government was readying the country for opening up the "Pandora's box of privatisation of public owned assets" which would mean "even greater immigration", Mr Peters said.

"The tactic is obvious -- Kiwibank is first up and that will be used for the public debate while all the assets of the state owned power companies and the other rich pickings are sold, and most would end up in foreign hands."

Foreigners were already "trying to grab our dairy industry", he said.

"Let's fight against the philosophies of greed and separatism that will tear us apart.

"When you think of the sacrifices that generations of New Zealanders made to build this country, you can only weep at the entangled economic treachery of those in the Beehive."

New Zealand First was needed in Parliament now more than ever, Mr Peters said.

"The fate of the country rests in our hands because we are the one party prepared to say no to another fire sale of state assets, and (with) the courage to stop it happening."