新西蘭英語 20 Who Owns Auckland Airport?
Who owns New Zealand railways, telephone services, electricity, city buses, airports, shipping ports and Air New Zealand? Some of these were owned by the government or local councils. Some were sold to private companies in the 1980s during the time of the Labour government. This was called the sale of state assets. These assets were businesses that provided a service to New Zealanders. NZ Rail, which also operated the ferries between the North and South Islands, was sold to a private company. Many train lines have closed in the last 20 years. The government now wants to buy back the railways. Telephone services were sold to Telecom. Air New Zealand was a private company but when it had financial troubles, the government decided to buy it back. Most city bus services, airports and sea ports are run by local councils.
Auckland Airport is a public company. About half of the shares are owned by Auckland councils and the rest by people who have bought shares in the company. Last year, a Dubai government company wanted to buy more than 50% of the shares which means that they could control the company. However, the councils and others refused to sell their shares. This year, the Canadian Pension Plan wanted 40% of the shares but this time the government would not allow this to happen. The Minister of Finance, on the weekend, said that Auckland airport is too important to New Zealand people and must not be sold to foreign interests.
It was interesting that it was a Labour government which sold many of the state assets in the 1980s but it is now a Labour government that says it will not sell state assets again. Usually it is a National government that believes in private ownership but John Key, a few days ago, said that if they are elected in November, they promise not to sell any state assets during their first term of three years.
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