New Zealand Democratic 1987 opening (14.52) Announcer: “New Zealand Democratic Party: Opportunity with Justice. A future for yourself, family and community. Equality of opportunity, sustainable lifestyle.” Text: NZ Democrats: Opportunity with Justice. Neil Morrison. Leader – NZ Democratic Party: “Good evening. This election may represent the last vote you have to protest against financial exploitation, as in GST, a squandering of our natural resources, like fuel and fishing, social disharmony. Ask yourself, how safe are you at home tonight. Text: MP-Pakuranga. “Racial tensions. The solutions are here and now, and it is time we stopped talking. An international situation whereby people are laughing about the Rainbow Warrior, ANZUS and the Fiji crisis. Where is the opposition against the violence attacking our communities? Who and where are the people protecting your rights? So, you have voted before, but now believe your trust was misplaced. This election you have a decision like never before. It probably represents the last time you have a vote for opportunity and justice in this country because this chapter on New Zealand history is about to close and a new one is about to be written called the New Zealand breakdown.” Announcer and text: “The New Zealand Democratic Party will… Retain small community hospitals… Make three percent loans available to regional development… Homeowners… farms and businesses… Have new businesses operate tax free for their first two years… Protect our farms from overseas interests and corporations.” Morrison (sitting down): “The driving energy for the New Zealand Democratic Party is people before profit, and use of the financial system to provide a better way of life. The Democrats want this country to be the nation in the world where you can stand on your own two feet through honest endeavour. This means considered political management, like you haven’t had before. And decisions from judgement based on fairness, and equality of opportunity. Life is about the diverse nature of people, so the Democrats recognise the multicultural nature of New Zealand society. We believe all races and all people of whatever status should have equal access to essential facilities, equal opportunity and rights to develop. These are the building blocks that history has taught us, time and time again, are needed to build a worthy lifestyle we can all sustain and enjoy. Tonight, I’m going to introduce members of the Democrat team, who with my party and yourself, can spearhead a new direction needed in this country now. I know Gary Knapp, MP for East Coast Bays, and our spokesman on defence and foreign affairs agrees with me. This election could very well represent the last vote you have to protest against bankrupt social and financial policies. Gary Knapp (sitting). Spokesperson-Foreign Affairs/Defence: “Thank you Neil. Getting right to the point, a few weeks ago at the Democratic Party’s annual conference, I drew into sharp focus the state of affairs in this country, which is alarming for the present, and any future we may think we all have. Democracy is under siege. How did we end up with the greatest right-wing economic experiment in this world after electing a Labour government? How can a party promise social justice and a fair deal for working people (MP – East Coast Bays) then deliver 20 to 30% interest rates and massive unemployment. How can a party promise not to touch National Superannuation, and then impose a punitive surtax? The fact that both Labour and National governments have been able to get away with such action, speaks volumes about our democracy. Something is very, very wrong. NZ Democrats. Announcer and text: “The New Zealand Democratic Party will… Enforce our current anti-nuclear stance… Promote neutrality… Work for nuclear free zones… Incorporate international peace-keeping and Civil Defence without the armed forces… Promote humanitarianism and peace in the world community. Knapp: “Stacked odds. That is what is facing any personal group who share opinions and beliefs that fall outside the Labour and National camps. Democracy is under siege in New Zealand, and the electoral system is a major contributor to the cause. We have a Royal Commission recognising a serious malfunctioning in our democratic system, and the Commission has recommended sweeping changes to correct this imbalance. Proportional representation, where the voter benefits, not the party, is democracy in action. Not a system where a party can gain the Treasury benches without fully disclosing their intentions once in power, and can do anything they like without being held to account. The New Zealand Democratic Party does not have secret agendas. We are making no secret of our plans and desire to be in a strong position, able to keep the two older parties honest as we demonstrated in relation to the government nuclear legislation. I put it to you, the choice this election is between the old and the new. The old parties who are responsible for our failing economy, slipping values and undemocratic decision-making processes. Many voters say they are so fed up they will protest by not voting. Get to know the new, and make a positive protest with the Democrats. Morrison: “The New Zealand Democratic Party stands for people before profit. And the use of the financial system to provide a better way of life. Okay, so using dollars and cents, how do we intend to achieve this? Alisdair Thompson is a New Zealand Democratic Party deputy leader and spokesman on finance and taxation, and candidate for Coromandel. Alistair. Alisdair Thompson. Dep. Leader- NZ Democratic Party. Facing us is a crisis in farming, the tragedy of unemployment, record debt and interest rates. Every day, all or one of these repeat themselves on radio or television, or are emblazoned across newspaper headlines (Candidate – Coromandel). It would appear that people controlling the cartel we call the banking system think they can go on sucking New Zealanders dry. You and I know this must stop if there is to be a future. This election you have the will and the means of the New Zealand Democratic Party to bring about opportunity with justice. We have no secret agendas or friends in the cartel who need a return on favours. Instead, we have a manifesto detailing our plans and targets. On page one there is a picture of our three-year economic plan, which will provide a future. These are our steps towards responsible management of this nation. Reduction of debt, reduced deficits, tax reforms, lowered inflation, lower interest rates, a balance between production and money supply. These are the steps for the pillars of industrial, economic and political democracy leading directly towards, and supporting, responsible management of New Zealand. NZ Democrats. Announcer and text: “The New Zealand Democratic Party will… Abolish GST and substitute with a half percent transfer tax on all payments out of bank accounts … reducing immediately, prices by five percent… Have interest rate slashed… Income tax … the first five hundred dollars you spend on home rates … repairs … mortgage interest repayments will be tax exempt… The cost of travelling to work will be tax exempt.” Thompson: “New Zealand cannot continue to make a living out of gambling on the stock exchange or from activities like buying and selling currency on the foreign exchange market. Where only one in every thirty dollars now traded relates to imports and exports. New Zealand can, if it wants to, have a tax-free level of income for single people of $125 per week, and for the average family of four, $269 per week, and have income splitting for married couples. Have an end to the double taxation on company profits, and an exchange rate that will be managed to work for exporters and provide a reasonable protection for local industry and jobs. Simply you now have to answer this question: What is my work worth? Not much is the answer. Because with current policies, combined with inflation, our incomes are losing value. And only your work effort is stopping our financial decline becoming an almighty crash. If this present situation even had a hint of fairness about it, why doesn’t the current administration end discrimination against women applying for housing loans. The New Zealand Democrats will, because we believe in opportunity with justice. Morrison: “Like yourself, the New Zealand Democratic Party’s belief in this country goes beyond growing crime, the diversity and financial trauma today. We know the future can be one in which there is opportunity and justice. Terry Heffernan is our spokesman on trade, industry and energy, and candidate for Wanganui. Terry. Terry Heffernan. Spokesperson – Trade/Industry: “Trade, industry and energy represent the life stream of New Zealand. Without proper management, care and development, you could say we are doomed. How much can our productive sector take. You can’t turn farm productivity on and off like a tap. Our small and medium businesses have been hammered with high overdraft interest rates. Too much time spent on collecting taxes, instead of producing. Our high uncontrolled exchange rate has led to hard fought for markets being lost. Candidate Wanganui. And workers are taking a wait and see option on the dole. The fact is this: unless things change we won’t be able to provide a healthcare, universal education, a viable police force. We could even get to the point where over 60s can’t use a heater on a cold night because there is no more super. The Democrats have policies on the conservation of our resources, on tax concessions and special bonuses to establish worker share holding in companies. Regional loans to ensure equal opportunity of employment and development. And with the New Zealand Democrats you won’t be fighting an uphill battle with inflation. Because, hand in hand with trade and industry, goes a sensible monetary policy that works for the benefit of the people in all sectors of the community. An atmosphere of enterprise to generate fair profits for all. NZ Democrats. Announcer and text The New Zealand Democratic Party will… Abolish double taxation on company tax… Help the provinces with regional development schemes… Abolish death duties to the level which fully protects the family business and the family farm. Heffernan: “Whatever we plan today must have some influence on those who follow. The future parent, the next generation of farmers, teachers, and even political leaders. The Democrats will establish a voice for youth in cabinet. Develop strategies to tackle youth unemployment through job training and creation. Marae enterprises and work cooperatives and voluntary service schemes. In education, we will achieve a maximum primary school roll of 500 and a pupil teacher ratio of one in twenty. Teacher study leave will be made available. There will be in place annually renewable bursaries indexed to the cost of tertiary study. An education system which offers a rich diversity and freedom of choice is found within the Democrats’ manifesto. The policies build basic principles such as equality of opportunity for all, no matter what creed, sex, or colour. The need to develop an individual’s uniqueness, enhancing his or her independence, an important and valuable attribute, and the need to develop cooperation and recognition of the worth of others. From a healthy, vital and proud education system, comes a healthy, vital and proud nation. Morrison: Tonight you have met some of the New Zealand Democrat team. Over the next few weeks in your electorate you will meet others and hear more details about our policies, which add up to Social Credit. A Democrat vote in 1987 will oppose financial exploitation, monopoly growth, sexual and racial discrimination, inflation, centralization, political expediency, and the destruction of the family unit. New Zealand, together with the Democrats, let us all share in the potential of this fantastic country. NZ Democrats. Announcer: “The New Zealand Democratic Party. Vote the positive protest for opportunity with justice. The New Zealand Democrats. Text: Make a positive protest. NZ Democrats.