1 Sep 2011

Iwi will hold their stake in SOEs - Morgan

8:10 am on 1 September 2011

A Maori leader says iwi keen to buy shares in State-owned enterprises will hold their stake for generations to come.

A second-term National Government would sell up to 49% of four energy companies, and some of Air New Zealand - with private shareholdings to be each capped, at what's likely to be 10%.

Fifty iwi are to set up a co-operative to be ready to buy shares.

Waikato-Tainui executive chair Tukoroirangi Morgan told Morning Report they will be looking to purchase strategically to obtain seats at the board table.

But Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said iwi will be a small player in the first tranche of sales and inevitably there will be shares going overseas.

Dr Norman told Morning Report that it's a mistake to treat power companies as cash cows for passive major investors.