Source: Alliance Party
Thursday 17 September 2026
The Alliance Party has condemned the National-led Government’s moves toward the partial privatization of Kiwibank, calling the plan a brazen sell-off of public wealth for private profit.
Former Alliance Cabinet Minister and 2026 Alliance Party political adviser Hon. Matt Robson was one of four Alliance ministers who originally secured the creation of the bank during the fifth Labour-Alliance coalition Government.
Matt Robson says Kiwibank was established to serve the public good, not financial speculators.
“Kiwibank was established under the leadership of the late Jim Anderton to give New Zealanders a permanent asset to underpin long-term investment for the public good, and provide a genuine Kiwi-owned alternative to the Australian-owned banking cartel.”
“Now National is preparing to hand Kiwibank over to private investors for private profit. This is nothing more than old-fashioned plunder of the public silver – there is nothing new under the sun,” says Matt Robson.
The Alliance Party confirmed that defending Kiwibank and halting all privatization will be a central pillar of its 2026 election campaign.
Under its Public Ownership and Economic Democracy platform, the Alliance opposes any dilution of Crown ownership and instead advocates for expanding public banking capability.
Matt Robson also challenged the Labour Party to take a firm stand.
“Labour previously campaigned on the great success of a publicly owned Kiwibank. They must now state unequivocally where they stand and join us in opposing any planned sale or dilution of this vital state asset.”
Editorial Note – About Hon. Matt Robson
The Hon. Matt Robson is a former MP for the Alliance and Progressive parties, and was a Cabinet minister in the 1999–2002 Labour–Alliance coalition government. Matt is co-producer of the 2026 documentary Last Man Standing, on the life and times of Jim Anderton, screening in New Zealand cinemas. Matt works as an immigration lawyer in Auckland and is actively supporting the relaunched Alliance Party.