Opinion: Put Kiwis first

PHOTO/FILE

New Zealand First's Mahesh Bindra had his private member's bill drawn from the ballot last week. Simply asking for a Land Register of foreign ownership.

New Zealand First has been asking this government specific questions on the quantum of New Zealand land owned by foreigners but the response received thus far have varied from, "We do not hold that information" to being called "racist" and "xenophobic".

Asking for information concerning New Zealand and its most strategic asset, namely, land, is our democratic right and is by no stretch of the imagination aimed at any particular race.

Transparency is needed and New Zealand First has been asking for transparency around ownership of our land by foreigners. When we say 'foreigners' we mean exactly that. We believe that people with a legal standing in New Zealand (as permanent residents or citizens), become New Zealanders, regardless of their country of origin or ethnicity. And whilst immigration numbers are completely unsustainable, once you're a Kiwi, you're a Kiwi.

New Zealanders can now hope to have the right to know how much of their land is owned by overseas investors and speculators. In a time when owning a home is becoming all but impossible it is absolutely right to first ask the question who and in what quantity. The current supposed statistics from Land Information does not ask a person where they reside or what their legal citizenship is, rather they ask for a person to tick an honesty box on their tax residency. As Inland Revenue does not hold tax residency status of any person and would not share it if they did, the current system of statistics is an absolute sham in my view.

Rotorua is becoming victim to the Auckland housing boom. I have owned a home in Rotorua since I first started teaching here, and so personally on the surface the increase in value looks good. But really, we all know that this is putting way too much pressure on the bulk of our people who are low income earners. They cannot afford the deposits let alone the increased rental costs bearing in mind incomes in Rotorua haven't gone up in years. Also, many of our senior citizens are realising that this does not bode well for their grandkids, our future generations, who are being kept at arm's length from home ownership.

Every year the numbers of home owners in New Zealand keeps decreasing. We know a good job and a home with a family in it is the cornerstone, the very foundation of our Kiwi society. It is being taken from us. You cannot blame people from around the world wanting to come and live in New Zealand; foreign speculation is permitted here. Overseas people are gambling with our homes. The problem is a government that refuses to set the rules in favour of Kiwis. No, rather we have a government that favours foreign speculation, foreign investment, and foreign trusts and tax evaders. This is their ideal world. It is not mine and it is not New Zealand First's and every day I am being told that it is not the what the people of Rotorua want either.

On a more celebratory note, the Hospice fundraiser last Saturday night was a huge success and highlighted just how the Rotorua community can come together for a great night of entertainment; all the while supporting a very worthy cause. A huge shout out to the organisers, MCs, judges and most of all the dancers. All those dancers put their reputations on the line to support Hospice and goodness me, didn't they do well. No mana was lost that night, but what a hard job the judges had. Congratulations to everyone involved.

- Fletcher Tabuteau is a Rotorua-based New Zealand First list MP.