What other parties say about the Air NZ rescue deal

* NATIONAL

Jenny Shipley: "The Government is trying to sell this as a rescue mission, but it is more of a salvage job. There will be job losses, cuts to regional services, reductions in the number of flights and it will create a less competitive air market. The Government's dithering starved Air New Zealand of funds, forcing a situation where a huge amount of taxpayer money is to be put at risk. On July 12, Singapore Airlines was ready to stump up $650 million to recapitalise Air New Zealand. Had that been allowed to proceed, it would have avoided the September write-down of $1.3 billion in assets."

* ACT

Richard Prebble: "Act is opposed to the Government putting taxpayers' money into Air New Zealand to save the airline's shareholders. If the Government had allowed the board to re-capitalise when it first sought approval, the rescue package wouldn't have been required. After the Prime Minister made her reckless statement advising mum and dad shareholders to hang onto their shares, Singapore Airlines and Brierley's were able to walk away."

* GREENS

Rod Donald: "The Greens have always seen the Government taking an equity stake as the obvious solution. Of course, we didn't want to see the situation deteriorate to the point where it has, but this is a much better outcome than selling even more of our national carrier to foreign owners or letting it go bust. The Government has stepped in to save our national airline. It is imperative they do the same for our rail system before it dies."

* NEW ZEALAND FIRST

Winston Peters: "In the last 15 years, this country has been damaged enormously by a combination of silly businessmen and even sillier politicians imposing their special brand of economic lunacy. Under these geniuses $885 million - and more to come - buys an 83 per cent stake of what was sold in 1989 for $660 million, when the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance were sitting on the front bench along with Act guru Richard Prebble."

* UNITED

Peter Dunne: "The Government's involvement is an unfortunate, but inevitable, outcome of its refusal to let Singapore Airlines lift its shareholding a few months ago. Taxpayers will be rightly gulping that their money is being used essentially to dig the Government out of the hole its stubbornness created for it. However, it is now time to ... restore Air New Zealand to full viability."

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