"News that Mighty River Power is increasing its prices should set alarm bells ringing for those struggling to pay their power bill" said MANA leader Hone Harawira "because Mighty River Power is one of the five State Owned Enterprises being prepared for sale to private investors."

"Once those shares are sold, investors will demand an ever increasing return, and that return will come about courtesy of more and more price rises."

"We already know the horror stories of whanau who can't afford to pay their power bill - no heating, no light, often no refrigeration - and we know only too well the cost to society of the massive costs associated with poor people suffering from cold, damp housing".

"Price increases will simply increase that poverty" said Harawira. "That's why I'm urging Maori to attend the SOE Sale consultation hui to tell the government that they are opposed to the sale of state assets".