新西兰英语 637 First Asset Sales in September

 　　For background to asset¹ sales, listen to January 30th 2011.

　　At the National Party annual conference in Auckland today, the Prime Minister, John Key, gave more details of the asset sales. The minimum sale will be a $1000 parcel of shares and all New Zealand individuals who want shares will be guaranteed up to $2000 worth of shares. Big institutional buyers will have to wait to see if there are any shares left. John Key thinks that 85 to 90% of the buyers will be New Zealand individuals.

　　Many New Zealanders are worried that Kiwis will sell to overseas buyers; however, John Key said that there will be bonus shares for Kiwis who keep the shares for three years. They will get extra shares.

　　The first asset for sale will be Mighty² River Power, probably in September. However, if Maori take the government to court over water rights, this could delay asset sales.

　　Vocabulary

　　?minimum – lowest number

　　?parcel of shares – number of shares

　　?institutional buyers – like insurance companies or banks

　　?delay – have to wait longer

1 asset   

n.有价值的资源，优点，长处；财产，资产

参考例句：

• Ability to get along with people is an asset in business.在商业界善跟别人相处是可贵的优点。
• Intelligence was her main asset.智力是她的主要财富。

2 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。