We've mentioned this concern in other threads - Asset Sales, wealthy foreigners being able to buy their way into residency, legislation being changed to benefit foreign businesses e.g. the Hobbit law, SkyCity Casino/Conference Centre.

But here, from Stuff this morning, is confirmation of the risk to our sovereignty of the proposed FTTP.

"Fears that American companies could gain control over New Zealand's lawmaking process have provoked a strong response from dozens of the country's legal minds.

More than 60 New Zealanders, including retired judges, practising lawyers, sitting members of Parliament and university academics, have issued an open letter to the lead negotiators of each country attending the latest round of Trans-Pacific Partnership talks beginning in Dallas, Texas, today.

The letter, signed by more than 100 international law experts, calls upon all governments engaged in TPP talks to reject the "investor-state dispute settlement" mechanism, which essentially gives private companies the ability to take civil action against foreign governments.

The Australian Government has taken the lead on excluding these provisions from any agreement that it signs, including its current free-trade agreement with the United States and South Korea also has concerns about its free-trade agreement with the US."

Have a read of the article and let us know your thoughts.

G'day love.

""New Zealand - For Sale?""

No...and under no circumstances should our sovereignity stand the remotest chance of being compromised in any way, shape, manner, or form.

Cheers love.

Morning, Squirter.
Whew!
That's you + me = 2

Sadly it already has and given this government's desperate need to raise cash to replace the lost revenue from their unaffordable tax cuts I fear they won't want to jepordise the negotiations and will give in to get the deal.

I say no more it has to stop now.

Cheers

and Hero makes 3.

Still counting...

Aranda....if you don't get 100% there's something wrong somewhere.

We all thought the world was going to end when England joined the EEC, but hey, we done all right.

Cheers.

NO, No, No....New Zealand is ours.

Arandar, I have posted before on Pharmac and the Drug Companies multinationals lobbying our Government secretly in other posts. I will read the article and some other stuff. But it will get me out on streets protesting Key is a disciple of Goldman Sach, Merrill Lynch etc And I don;t trust him one iota. Cheers,.

Post deleted at 09 May 2012 9:21am by Dr Livingstone

Arandar, Crosby -Textor is an" interesting "firm and John Keys connection to it has been hidden since Crosby Textor ran or spearheaded his 2005 campaign. They are big Lobbyists. They have huge connections with right wing governments. Have you heard of them.?

I am in the " No Way " group. Time for every NZer to stand up on this.
Perhaps those in Parliament who oppose should start giving notice of their intent to change laws back to NZ for NZers when there is a govt change.

6/6.

Still counting.

Squirter, Yes, we did alright - in fact, you could argue we did better without the Motherland in the end, though it hurt, having Mum chuck us out of the nest, at the time.

We also stood up to tremendous political and financial threats over our No Nukes stance and we won. The world is trying to disengage themselves from nuclear power and weaponry now; after Fukushima, more than ever. And lookee there, the Yanks are back, training with us, sharing 'secrets' again. It only took 30something years. I wonder what we'll be expected to pay for the privilege? Maybe Pharmac?

Yes, DocL, I have... I googled it just now to be sure my understandings were correct. They were. This:
"It is a Canberra based market research and communications company with close connections to the federal Liberal Party. According to their own blurb Crosby/Textor offers â??an unmatched pedigree combining comprehensive experience in market research, strategic communications and campaign executionâ??. These skills have been honed by its two principals in the last four elections. As well as the federal Government, their high powered clients include Telstra, British American Tobacco, Qantas and lately the Qantas takeover bid."

Albeit referring to Australia their work in NZ is pretty much identical. Lobbyists, pollsters, communications and investment banking. Lovely.