31 May 2013

Iwi SOE investment option not special - consultant

7:37 am on 31 May 2013

A financial services firm says the option for tribes to buy shares in Meridian Energy should not be looked on as special investment.

Ngai Tahu has told Te Manu Korihi it might look at taking a stake in Meridian which has hydro generating plants within its rohe (tribal territory).

But a partner at the financial consulting company PwC, Hamiora Bowkett, says the tribe has many options to invest its capital and iwi need to ask what makes a state asset any different to the other investment opportunities.

Mr Bowkett says state owned enterprises have reliable cashflows and good returns backed up by predictable customer demand.