Winston Peters said it was up to the “majority we get on election night” to determine what could be done on its policy of splitting up gentailers.
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Winston Peters says the gentailers are “no doubt having meetings now as we speak”, as New Zealand First looks to split them up in order to make energy prices cheaper.
The party will campaign this year on splitting up power companies into generators and retailers, so that some will generate power and some will sell it.
The New Zealand First leader wouldn’t explain exactly how the policy would work, but said it was up to the “majority we get on election night” to determine what could be done, and how soon New Zealanders would see the benefit of cheaper prices.
In the party’s first major policy bid during election year, deputy leader Shane Jones added “the reality is, the gentailers know that the game is up”.
“They do have deep pockets and corporate activists, but they won’t, at the end of the day, after the votes are counted, be in the room.”
Peters made the policy announcement during his State of the Nation address in Tauranga on Sunday, saying the big four power companies control almost 90 percent of the electricity generation and “then sell it back to themselves.”
“Under the current system, the most expensive generator sets the price for all electricity – even electricity that costs peanuts to generate.
“It’s absurd.
“We will replace the current system so that companies cannot hold back supply just to drive prices higher.”
Winston Peters makes his state of the nation speech in Tauranga on Sunday.
Photo: RNZ/Dan Jones
Peters said it was time to secure the electricity system for all New Zealanders.
Speaking to reporters later, Peters was questioned about how it would work, and indicated the address to the public on Sunday was part of the process.
“That’s what this meeting today is about. We’re out to change the political dichotomy of this country.”
He acknowledged the power companies may challenge the idea, “no doubt they’re having meetings now as we speak,” but said the reality was New Zealand First was going to bring cheap power pricing back to the country.
He said a range of businesses closing down currently that wouldn’t have if New Zealand First had acted already, “but we are trapped in a coalition.”
He indicated the party was going to go out and get New Zealanders on board, “we need the public support to make it a reality.”
“That’s the message today. You’re the master here, not those temporary, empowered politicians.”
The party was also adamant it would retain its stance of being against asset sales.
Jones said the party was going to campaign on national security, economic resilience and maintaining public trust.
“A key part of that is re-establishing and repurposing key institutions in society and not hocking them off.
“It’s up to Kiwis to work out whether they like that message or not.”