KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Karyn
Absolutely AIA should not allow any foreign interests to have a majority stake in the airport no matter what the short-term advantages. I have been a shareholder for 6years and have been rewarded with a 430 per cent growth in value ...better than housing....as well as handsome dividends. The current dividend pays an annual 30 per cent return on my original investment cost. Why sell something that good to overseas interests when we are encouraging NZer's to save and invest in what if we sell our best assets??? I have already had to sell Frucor and Waste Management shares, both fabulous companies with great returns into successful takeover bids by foreign companies. No overseas company has NZ'ers interests at heart only their own profit margin and their shareholders returns. I would like to see the councils retain their interests and more NZer's encouraged to invest in Auckland Airport shares and benefit from the growth and dividends that will undoubtedly occur if we retain NZ ownership. Air travel is getting cheaper and passenger numbers are increasing. As well the airport has a large piece of prime real estate. Whatever the offer I will be voting no!
Jp
s Winston Peters the John Howard of NZ politics? He is trying to win an argument by playing the national security card and blended with his usual race card. And more similarties - the election isn't too far away. That'll be it.
Matt UK
"Specially Dubai. so many terrorist are there"I think it's so funny, "Oh don't have those dirty arabs buying AIA, they are terrorists blah blah blah." Didn't hear anyone complain when an Arab airline pumped millions into a NZ team to try and win a sailing race, or is that different? So many small minded people in still in NZ. I left 15 years ago to travel the world and came back this year. I don't see what's wrong with AIA it looks better than when I left. What do people want to do there? I get off a plane after 12 hrs the last thing I want to do is hang around the airport. Singapore AP lovely but it is also a transit AP and you may have to spend 12 hours waiting till next flight. Never sell your nations good to another country, as all the money will go overseas, ;et them invest up to 49 per cent, but controlling shares in local hands.
Tap
Sell Auckland Airport? No! Look at what happened to our Auckland to Wellington trains!
Smash (Auckland)
1. It is not New Zealand's airport nor is it New Zealand's infrastructure. It is a privately owned company whose profits go to shareholders who can be anyone with a New Zealand bank account and an IRD number.
2. If the bid is successful, the councils involved will both receive share or cash options in a newly formed amalgamated company.
3. If the bid is successful, the councils involved will both receive a combined $1.1 billion to spend hopefully on really providing Auckland with what it really needs being public transport. The World Cup in 2011 will be a shambles without a direct link from the airport to the city and onto Eden Park.
4. Only the profits will go offshore. The company will still be required to pay rates and domestic taxes.
5. The bidding company has not asked for a majority representation on the board.
6. Dubai is not a haven for terrorists. Get real! Just because ignorant Bush overrules Dubai's successful purchase of US ports doesn't mean we all have to be biggots.
7. Why is an airport suddenly a national icon? If anything it is an embarrassment and not a good first impression on visitors. Let go of nationalistic views re a private company!
Think New Zealand! Think!
Jerry (Christchurch)
To Phil from Hamilton, Please learn some economics. The share price of Air NZ is okay, definitely not healthy, and just because some subscribers of a pommy magazine like it doesn't mean it's the best airline. Besides, if Auckland Airport was such a great national asset, it wouldn't be private owned in the first place.
Andrew
This is another example of stupid sales of our assets to foreign owners.Its time we as a nation we woke up to the fact that selling our assets to others is sucking the life out of our country.It is a wake up call to New Zealanders though - that if we dont want this we should be investing in our businesses instead of our houses and therefore creating more wealth for us as a Nation.
Goldilox
Have you been to Dubai? Have you been to Heathrow? Have any of you been anywhere to think that Dubai is full of terrorists and AKL Airport is sooo fantastic. I dont know if DAE are involved with Dubai's airport upgrade which has been taking place progressively over the last few years - but I am very impressed with the construction and money that UAE puts into projects. Heathrow is a busy airport - seating will be an issue - if I am not mistaken it is the busiest in the world. Auckland Airport (which isn't even connected to the domestic terminal! walk or shuttle - what a joke!) could do with some international expertise and $$$$$$$$ (or dirhams). I dont believe like some that this would somehow force the country (somehow by changing the immigration laws) to allow "a bunch of Arabs" to be allowed to live/work here. Bob Johnson, the chief exec of DAE, doesnt sound particularly Arabic to me - but then again why should it matter - I thought NZ was a melting pot of ethnicity?!
George
I have seen many here praising Dubai and its airport. These people have never seen the actual side of Dubai. It's a bizarre. How many people realise that the labour laws in the UAE are virtually non existent, with workers, even expats working massive hours. In addition the existing labour laws that do exist are quite often disregarded by employers, with workers given no choice in the matter. Thousands of expats are paid less than NZ dollar 200 a week, making them work around 10hrs a day for 6 days a week. Also does any one know that we are not allowed to celebrate Christmas publicly or speak about democracy.Majority of the Middle East countries sympathises the act of jihad. UAE shares a good amount of border with Saudi Arabia, home country of Bin Laden. Saudi Arabia shares borders with Iraq. Iraq has borders with Syria and Iran. Should we believe the honesty of DAE to buy ports in 22 countries? Why do they target ports which are a strategic point or an easy access to cross borders? Please do something, NZ.
Matthew Pilott
Many contibutors claim the idea is good because a great deal of capital will be invested in the airport. They might want to consider that the potential purchaser is a corporation, not a charity! Anything paid into the airport will be sucked out of us tenfold, with scant though to the betterment of the airport itself unless it happens to coincide with increased revenue. John Key suggested privatisation of other infrastructure in Auckland to "help" city councils. In both cases the NZ public would be sold up the river. At least we can stop Key from inflicting this private-public nightmare upon us, even if we have no say about AIA.
Invercargill
My grandchildren will have nothing left soon! Air New Zealand need have no fears, it can always use the Invercargill International Airport Closer to Melbourne anyway! (by 376 Km).
Murray
Perhaps if Emirates had been allowed to hub out of Auckland a few years ago, this situation might not have arisen.
Rick
A very definite No. Airport shares earn a good income for District Councils that have held on to their shares.These shares a good asset, and will increase in value, thus earning more progressively.Retain the shares!
D
On the question of security I've always believed that the airports that are Arab owned are slightly safer- the terrorists rarely attack their own kind. However I think looking at a pure economic perspective, whether we like it or not the Airport will end up in overseas hands - question is whether it's Australian or someone else. Foreign investment may actually prove beneficial to New Zealand especially if it means that the Airport goes through a major upgrade. It seems to go without saying but Dubai Aerospace obviously has the specialist knowledge and economic power to create real change and make Auckland Airport a world-class airport.
Concerned (Tunbridge Wells)
It is sheer insanity to sell infrastructure to overseas parties. The profits flow out of New Zealand exacerbating the balance of payments deficit. In 10 years time the foreign owners would offer it for sale back to New Zealanders at $10/14 per share. Like silly puppies we would buy it. Meanwhile we will have missed all that growth to say nothing of the dividends. Why is the Cullen Fund not a major shareholder? It should take a blocking stake. If Dubai think it a good investment why are the Directors such utter idiots as to wish to sell it? Perhaps they should receive counselling. Why does New Zealand want to become like South America? Heading the right way for it.
Local
Definitely not in NZ's interests. There should be a foreign ownership cap of not more than 49 per cent of the total shareholding.
Elc
We shouldn't allow the ownership of important assets like Auckland Airport in hand of foreigners ,special the people from Arab World they are against our culture and they have different civilization and what will happen if our conflict with them increase in future and they own assets like this?
Bill Beasant
Auckland airport sale? A big no.
Kiwi in Calif
Selling the airport to foreign interests is a bad idea. The Dubai Company does not make a habit of paying premiums for anything. They buy at wholesale prices, that's why they have the money. Its obvious they see the value in the airport and all its associated properties. Therefore any so-called 'premium ' they offer now is to see if the AKL Board is short sighted enough to accept it. Once they own the Airport its a whole new ball game. Unfortunately, watching the press conference video, AKL management looks totally overwhelmed by Dubai's CEO and staff. Talk about being led around by the nose, get someone in there with some backbone.Auckland needs to fight this deal. Who the hell wants to fly into 'Dubai's Auckland Airport'.Sure they can change the name, its their airport..right?
North Shore City
Auckland Mangere airport is the only airport for Auckland. I fully support Mr. Peters view that this is a "national" airport although shares are in private hands. A similar take-over in the USA has also caused an outcry with the Dubai company withdrawing already acquired ports. One more reason to give the go-ahead for Whenuapai airport to become a commercial airport to break the existing monopoly of Mangere airport.
Franklin
Thought we had learnt a bit more over the years of selling the nation's assets.What we should be doing is leasing the assets out and never selling them that way we will leave something for New Zealanders that will always appreciate.
Andrew
Auckland should sell it. This way the councils can get a big one-off payout to cover the cost of their incompetence, and also, by holding onto a stake in the monopoly, they can win huge profits for themselves as the monopoly inevitably exercises chronic price-hikes (this is basically a disguised tax - just like what we have today with the power suppliers). Because Auckland won't have the controlling share, they can conveniently blame the price-hikes to come on Dubai - very clever!
Lawrence of Arabia
I find it sad that another piece of Godzone will be owned by overseas interests. But, then again what else is new , ever since Rogernomics changed the economic direction of this country , slowly but surely , little bits and pieces are going.I wonder if we are able to use the Waitangi Tribunal to ensure that what we have left stays with in Godzone.
Tim Spooner
Read any British press reports about the condition of Heathrow airport after it was recently taken over by Spanish investors at a huge price. No new investment, no maintenance, terrible queues for passengers and chock a block with retail stores, but no seating for passengers. That is what will happen at Auckland. Much higher charges, profits taken out to service the debt involved to fund the purchase. Deteriorating standards, no service for passengers or airlines. Before you know it, the place will look like Otara Shopping Centre.Not to mention, who will be in charge of airport security? This is all downside, nothing good will come of it.
Bruce
Never sell the Auckland airport. We have been down the path of selling NZ assets and it always comes back to bite us. The railways sale was a disaster and only one or two people benefited by that the rest of us paid an awfully high price.
Marcus
What is the issue here. It is a business and if someone wants to buy it then sell it. It is not benefiting us in anyway... perhaps if the local councils sold their shares I would not have to pay so much in rates. Do we get cheap anything from the airport at the moment. Also look at the bigger picture. Everyone is just looking at the airport but the company that is looking to buy it is a lot bigger then we think. Look at the engineering these guys have to offer for work at the airport.We need to look further then we are on this one.
Brent
No, we've sold too much of NZ already and way too cheaply. What little control we have left we should retain.
Marc
New Zealand has a growing economy,but not at all at a level or size which secures or comforts the investors, either local,international,personal or corporate. Beyond a number of comperative issues(ie size of economy,taxes, local regulations)which New Zealand does not obtain an upper hand ,also the constant cries of protectionism in every production and service spheres are least inviting for any investment. Let us get over it,New Zealand may be an island but does not need to be isolated from world neither financially nor politically. Let us get over it,it is just a number of corporations (and not necessarily their share holders)who temporarily benefit by stopping or slowing the integration of NZ economy with the world.One should not look into any sales as a subjective loss of National Benefits simply becuse the buyers are not Kiwis, but simply question the advantages and or disadvantages the sales may deliver.Auckland Airport should not be restricted from providing a better more efficient and improving service.
Geof Smith
No way! and we should nationalize Telecom and the railways.
Neil(Auckland)
Why not ? For those ignorant people out there, Dubai (like Singapore) is a far more advanced country than NZ and their stunning growth in the last 10 years is astounding. AIA is an embarrassment as far as service is concerned (eg departure fees are still not including in the ticket price and has to be paid separately before departure). Having a modern and forward thinking owner can only be good for AIA, the airlines and the passengers.
Luke Mason
I think the majority of the public from both the left and right sides of the political spectrum realise that it does no one any good from selling public owned assetts. They will make a killing and in five years time we'll be scratching our heads as to why we sold them so cheaply. History has proven time and time again that no good will become from selling these airport shares.
Conserned libertarian
DAE is goiing to transform the airport into a modern competitive company, come on people this is what is best for New Zealand. If Air New Zealand goes down then that's survival of the fittest. What is the point of keeping an inefficient company on life support? These people know their business, it doesn't help New Zealand if our airports are owned by people that don't ei the local government. People that oppose the takeover speak as if DAE are gonna ship the takeover back to Dubai.
Phil(Auckland)
I see that racism and bigotry are alive and well in Godzown. Every Arab is a terrorist eh! When I,of Arabic descent,was growing up in Auckland,in the 50's and 60's,I became a fighter because of the racist taunts and intolerance.I thought we were a much changed country; obviously I was wrong.Half the correspondents should immediately check to see whether there are any communists hiding under their beds. The only bright point of this debate is to read the large number of views from people who are smart enough to see this potential purchase for what it is;an investment strategy,nothing more.
Phil (Hamilton)
Jerry from Christchurch - If you did your homework you will find that Air New Zealand is doing very well. The share price is healthy and the airline was recently voted 2nd best long haul service in the world!
Colin England
The Auckland Airport should not be sold to overseas owners. Actually, no company should be sold to overseas owners. Since we started selling them cheaply our standard of living has invariably declined. Foreign investment is great but keep it in the financial realms and out of ownership and control. If we don't then sooner or later we will end up as slaves to the rest of the world.
Shake
I find this debate over allowing DAE to buy AIAL very amusing. On one hand we are a democratic nation who support capitalism and a free market economy, and as a result privatized AIAL years ago leaving it open to be purchased by whom ever we wanted. And now we have politicians and other New Zealanders raising a fuss about its sale. So can we intervene and what message does that send the international community? Should they invest in NZ? Secondly I am sure that if this was an American or British company there wouldn't be half the fuss. Come on you red necks see the light, these people want to inject Billions of dollars into the airport, grow it and make it a world class. So what if they are Arab, does that make their money not good enough?
Davidson
Absolutely not! This should be a 'no other way out' option only. The woes of the power supply, prices and systems should have taught us that selling out is not the way to go for NZ.
Kiwi
Yes, of course. Why the people shout too much for such a small airport. Go and see the world , there are a lot of bigger with more facility airport in the world. As compare to them Auckland Airport is nothing, un comparable. And for such a airport everyone is shouting.Hopeless.All kiwi specially politician must do before opening the mouth.
Paul
What people should be considering is what the benefits will be to NZ as a whole and not reverting to trying to scare people by using security and all the money being drained offshore excuses.Common sense suggest any company will only buy something to improve it and return the profits to the shareholders. Local politicians are grandstanding for up coming local body elections and none of them in the past 10 years since AIA was listed have done anything to improve the airport operation.The current transportation system to the airport is a mess and AIAL is continually putting up charges to cover the cost of building works. Dubai has invested billions of dollars in Tourism both in there own country and overseas and all of there investments seem to run very profitably and are still perform strong and returning profits to the share holders.AIA is a business and if someone is willing to invest 2.4 billion dollars to actually make it a world class airport rather than what it is now then people should be free to make up there own minds instead of listening to has been politician both in Government and local body are whom are only looking to their own political futures.
Shirish Dev
Yes I do object if any other country buy Auckland airport. Specially Dubai so many terrorist are there. NZ is only country in this whole world is safe. If Dubai ppl will buy airport v have to give immigration to so many dubai ppl. and after that they will rule NZ jut because of money and all bad ppl will get PR and they will start all bad things from here only.
Rosemary from Auckland - 60 years old, NZ born.
I am feeling rather cautious with this matter, of our Auckland Airport, especially, anything to do with the areas of Dubai etc.They hold alot of money, whether it be borrowed, or theirs, but they have certainly shown that they want to be on the top of the heap, no matter what. Personally, I would not agree to any financial involvement with our running of our airport, and I realise that they will probably be using their pulling power with the support of our America's Cup campaign. There is always repercussions with money lending, and we have a great country here, and I can see all sort of nationalities taking advantage of it, our business men wanting to be in for the dollars, when they will all probably be dead, if things do not work out, so we have to make sure that we are not selling our souls and making our children's and grandchildren's life, second and third grade, and it will happen - its bad enough now, with all the immigration, and inherited crimes. We want first grade for them also. Keep NZ off the money making rackets.
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