Protesters gather ahead of asset sale hui

Finance Minister Bill English. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Dozens of protesters have gathered in Rotorua this morning ahead of a consultation hui with iwi on asset sales.

Around 50 protesters are outside the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua where Finance Minister Bill English is to to speak with iwi about what sort of Treaty of Waitangi clause should be in the legislation allowing for the new private and public ownership of the SOEs.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday agreed that simply moving the Section 9 Treaty clause in the State-owned Enterprises Act 1986 to the new law was a distinct possibility, and making it clear that Treaty obligations lay with the Crown.

Among the protesters are Mana's Annette Sykes and Green Party List MP Denise Roche.