New Zealand Democratic Party closing 1987 (20.00) Text: Make a positive protest. Democrats. Opportunity with Justice. Announcer: “New Zealand Democratic Party. Opportunity with justice. A future for yourself, family, and community. Equality of opportunity. Sustainable lifestyle. Michael Holmes: Good evening. I’m Michael Holmes, a journalist, who has been for the last four weeks covering the election campaign. With me tonight in the studio is Mr Neil Morrison, leader of the New Zealand Democratic Party and MP for Pakuranga. Good evening and welcome Mr Morrison. Morrison: “Good evening Mike.” Also with us tonight Mr Stefan Lipa, President of the New Zealand Democratic Party. Good evening and welcome to you Mr Lipa. Lipa: “Good evening.” Holmes: “Why should the voters of New Zealand vote for the Democrats tomorrow?” Neil Morrison. Leader of the New Zealand Democratic Party: “Michael, since 1974 this country has been living in a fool’s paradise. We have been borrowing money overseas to sustain our way of life. This has been happening under both of the parties that have been in power since that time, and it is unsustainable. We have now reached the end, New Zealand is very, very heavily indebted. What the Democrats want is to put management back in the hands of members of parliament. It has been given away now, given away to corporate executives that everybody reads about every day in the financial pages of their Herald. It is given away under both Labour’s and National’s free market policies. The Democrats believe members of Parliament are elected to govern, and that is what we want them to do. The Democrats believe we need a sustainable lifestyle in New Zealand, but a very, very strong business sector to provide wealth, to create productivity, and provide jobs for our children. That is the kind of lifestyle we want, a very sustainable lifestyle, but a productive lifestyle that maintains our standard of living. Holmes: “Now that is all very well, but you have been going around New Zealand complaining very strongly about the free market policies of both Labour and National. And a lot of people appear to be very happy and prospering under the free market policy. What is your comment on that?” Morrison: “Well, yes, there are some people prospering under the free market policies Michael. But there are a lot of other people who are hurting. There are many other people, Michael, who are haemorrhaging. And I’m talking about farmers that productive farming agricultural industry, it is haemorrhaging in our rural areas. People seem to have forgotten our agricultural base still brings in well over 50% of our export earnings. It is absolutely vital that we stimulate our agricultural base to get productivity back into the rural areas. Our manufacturing industries are bleeding. We have people now, manufacturers, shifting offshore and taking their productive factories away and putting our people into redundancy. Putting our people out of jobs. Yes, there are some people profiting. Those people who are profiting are producing absolutely nothing. We want to put the profit back in the hands of the workers and the producers of real wealth. Holmes: “This leads to the next question surely, does this mean we are going to have some controls?” Morrison: “Yes, and that is what the members of Parliament are elected to do. They are elected to moderate the government, moderate the country, moderate the economy, for and behalf of the producers of real wealth. Without producing wealth, without creating jobs opportunities, without creating wealth that we can export, there is no standard of life, they must come first.” Holmes: “The National Party has been talking about deregulating the labour market. Now that seems to tie in with this free market policy. Now would you like to qualify or clarify that a bit for us?” Morrison: “Yes, I certainly would Michael because I have been alarmed, absolutely alarmed, at all of the factories, all of the workers I’ve spoken to, so few people understand what the National Party are saying. The National Party talk about deregulating the labour market, they are talking about cutting somebody’s wages in half. When the National Party are talking about deregulating the labour market they are talking about throwing out all of the awards which unions have worked hard for for generations. When the National Party are talking about deregulating the labour market, they’re talking in effect about getting somebody to work for a couple of bowls of rice a day. Really that is what the free market is about. And I don’t really think New Zealanders have yet felt the full blast of what the free market is. I think that is going to happen soon after election, whether or not the Labour free market party gets in or the National free market party gets in. The free market is quite simple. It means removing all controls, and the National Party are now advocating removing controls that maintain minimum standards of minimum wages, and letting the market rule. Letting the market rule means simply an economic policy that creates a law of the jungle. Dog eat dog, let the rich get richer and the poor just get trampled on. That is exactly what the free market is about. And we already, already, have in this country claims in one recently published book, one million people on the poverty line. Is this what New Zealanders really want? I don’t think so.” “I’m hearing about people, many people, who are counting one cent pieces to pay their bills. That is the kind of hardship we are talking about, to me that is getting very close to poverty.” Holmes: “All right, that is fine. That talks about the pensioners and the people who are scraping to pay the grocery bill. But what about people in manufacturing, exporters, aren’t they in some cases on the hardship line too.” Morrison: “Yes, that’s applying right across the board. And our manufacturing industries are having incredible impositions placed on them by way of GST collection, totally unnecessary in an electronic world, by way of ACC levies, all sorts of impositions and of course absolutely crucifying interest rates. If we are going to keep this country productive, if we are going to keep our children in jobs, if we are going to create job opportunities for our children when they leave school, we must create an environment where business can prosper, provide wealth for our society, and job opportunities for our children.” Holmes: “It seems that looking around places like Auckland and Wellington there is a lot of prosperity around. Are you suggesting that New Zealand is not prosperous?” Morrison: “Michael, we have turned into a two-tier economy. In the rural areas, in the rural areas, things are very, very depressed. And the best example I saw on my tour through the rural areas was in Gore. They had one of the highest standards of living in New Zealand, for about 25 years, the highest retail sales per head of population, and now they are finding they have 300 unemployed and about 8% of the houses on the market for sale. Now that is just typical of what is happening right through the rural areas of New Zealand, and it is simply because of the crucifying interest rates which are creaming the profits away from the farmers; profits which rightfully belong to the farming industry, they created the wealth, the should have that profit, that profit is being creamed away to Auckland and Wellington and leaving nothing, no disposable income left to go into the shops in our rural towns. Hence, once again, that causes more unemployment. Holmes: “I heard you make a reference the other day that interest rates are, you’ve heard from somewhere, could go and rise dramatically again. Would you like to comment on that?” Morrison: “Well my projection is under this free market lunacy that Labour and National are promoting that interest rates will go to 35 to 40% in an endeavour, a classic free market endeavour, to suppress import demand. We’ve already, two months ago, had one economist in Wellington say the only thing wrong with interest rates is that they’re not high enough. So it is being publically promoted now that concept. If that does happen, and that is the classic free market way of doing things, then I believe we could possibly be looking, before the next election, before 1990, at something like 200,000 people unemployed in this nation. And that is a tragedy in a country we used to call Gods Own.” Holmes: “Can you substantiate that, is there a feeling around New Zealand that this is what is going to happen, or is that just you?” Morrison: “No, that is certainly the feeling in the rural areas, that is the feeling when I talk to manufacturers up and down New Zealand, they are gravely concerned. They are very, very concerned at the direction of this country. When you look around other countries in the world where ludicrous free market nonsense has been applied, it always brings the same results. Human devastation and unemployment.” Holmes: “Mr Lipa, that is a fairly depressing picture Mr Morrison has painted. What is the Democrats policy on the economy? Stefan Lipa. President of the New Zealand Democratic Party: “We have a very definite set of policies to deal with the problems Neil has mentioned. First of all, we believe we’ve got to do what ever is necessary to slash interest rates. The interest rate structure in this country has just got to come down. We’ve got to do that so that we can make sure people can house themselves in a way that has been traditionally true in New Zealand. We’ve got to do it so that businesses have an incentive to exist because, at the moment, a lot of businesses are having all their profits eaten away with the high interest rates structure. So that is the first thing. To get it down by whatever means is necessary. Secondly, we believe in having a good look at the whole taxation system. We’ve got to abolish GST. This is a ridiculous tax which has placed administrative burdens on businesses, it has hiked the price structure up far too high, and we’ve got an army of tax inspectors running around wasting our money and our time. So we would replace that with a tax called the transfer tax which would take half a percent off all payments out of bank accounts, and that would immediately reduce the price structure by about five percent and cut out this administrative bureaucracy. And we’ve got to do something to curb monopolies. Those the basic areas the Democratic Party has in its economic policy to deal with the sorts of problems Neil has talked about. Michael Holmes. Journalist: “Mr Morrison, you’ve been making a number of fairly strong comments around the country about economic violence leading to social violence.” Morrison: “Economic violence has always expressed itself in social violence. Economic violence means high interest rates, it means unemployment. And it always translates into social violence. Because under our free market economic policies, being promoted by Labour and National, what happens is there is always a lot of human flotsam and jetsam left on the bottom of the pile. Those people who are deprived of a reasonable and a dignified standard of living in a wealthy society. And they get violent, naturally they get violent, and that is exactly what we mean. We’ve got to get back to a caring society, a society where everybody has a job opportunity, a society where people have self-esteem, have dignity, where they feel they can play a meaningful role in our economy, and only then, only then, will we really come to grips with our law and order problems. Holmes: “Mr Morrison, now let’s look at social violence. Do you think the fervour about crime and violence in New Zealand at the moment is justified, or are we over-reacting?” Morrison: “Most people want to have a reasonably satisfying dignified life. And it is the environment you put people in which causes people to respond very, very negatively. And we want to get back to a caring society, where people come before profits, people come before profits, the kind of society that we have had in New Zealand, where New Zealand proved it could be done, above all else, above every other country in the world, that is the sort of model, get back to playing our own role models which we have done in the past. We believe it can be done, New Zealand is a beautiful country, it is a large country, we have only three million people, we have a productive society, we have well educated people, people who want to participate, that is what democratic policy is all about, about people participating in their own economy, and taking a place in their own society with dignity.” Holmes: “Have we got to that silly stage where people won’t go out any more or what?” Morrison: “Yes we have, yes we have. In houses in Pakuranga I meet people who, at 1.00 in the afternoon on beautiful sunny days have chains and bolts on their doors. That is a sad legacy for New Zealand, a legacy we’ve got to throw off quickly.” Holmes: “Mr Lipa, what is the Democrats’ policy on law and order?” Lipa: “First of all, we believe that it is about time politicians gave the lead. Because people follow their leaders. And politicians in this country, or a lot of them, often act like hooligans in Parliament. Now people take their cue from that sort of thing. If the politicians grew up, maybe then they would give a better role model to the people out on the streets that climb into it with their fists. Secondly, we believe that if we look at the economy, and give people hope, then a lot of the problems will be alleviated anyway, because a lot of violence stems from that feeling of hopelessness. I’ll give you an example. I talked before about abolishing GST. If we could sack those 1500 extra tax inspectors that were employed we could give the police their thousand extra police they have asked for, straight away without it costing this country one cent more. All it takes is a bit of common sense. We also believe that we do need, on the other side of it, where people still insist on committing crimes, we do need to look at mandatory minimum prison sentences and when a judge gives a person a prison term parole should be granted rather more sparingly that it is at the moment. We feel that parole is often granted simply because the government is spending so much money paying out money lenders that it doesn’t have the prisons to house prisoners.” Holmes: “Now I think we ought to turn our attention again to the subject, I know it is dear to your heart Mr Morrison, it is the question of regional development.” Morrison: “We have a strong regional development policy. Our regions have a vital part to play in our economy. I’ve already told you that over 50% of our export income is still coming from agriculture, that is coming from the regions. There is no replacement for that yet in sight. We are going to be relying on agriculture for a long time to come. It is absolutely vital that our regions be given the stimulus, and the profit is kept in their pockets, which rightfully belongs to them, rightfully belongs to them. We want the regions to prosper. There are one or two very good examples of what can be done in the regions. But that is the example we want to use to show a lot more prosperous companies can operate in the regions, a far more stable labour environment, where people feel far better bringing up their children, probably in a reasonably drug free environment, in a better social environment, and we want to give every possible incentive for people to move into the regions, where the housing incidentally is a lot, lot cheaper, half the price in some instances of what it is in Auckland, and we want to give stimulus for private enterprise to set up factories, to expand productivity in the regions, to bring life and viability back to the regions.” Holmes: “Mr Morrison, what is your attitude to training people and getting the country back to a full employment situation?” Morrison: “Yes, our attitude is very, very firm on this. Unlike the other parties who only talk about work schemes when the discussion of employment comes up, we have put together a comprehensive package, a comprehensive package. We want to continue the work schemes, but that is just the first step in the whole programme. We want, and we believe, that we can get New Zealand completely back to work, as New Zealand proved for 30 years. Full employment is possible, we did it, we achieved the miracle, we believe it can be done again. We have only three million people, so it is a two-stage policy. First of all, teaching skills, teaching skills, but more importantly, putting profit back in business so businessmen can take on apprentices, we want to give small business the incentive it needs to get started and we have, as indicated by Stefan, we would give genuine starts to new businesses, a two year tax break. We want to give every incentive for businesses that are already established to expand their productivity, create more job opportunities, and we believe it is quite possible, quite possible, to get back to a full employment situation in New Zealand.” Holmes: “Mr Morrison, do you and your party firmly believe in this strong anti-nuclear stance that New Zealand currently holds?” Morrison: “Yes we do, and we’ve supported that stance in Parliament. We have supported the government’s legislation through the House, and if anything we would like to see it a little stronger. We’ve supported it for a variety of reasons. Young people are looking for hope, but also there are other good causes to support it. The world now, right through Europe, there is tremendous demand for clean food. I believe New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance could well end up by being the best marketing tool for our agricultural products that this nation has ever had.” Holmes: “Mr Morrison, when the voters of New Zealand go to the polls tomorrow, what is the message that you as leader of the Democrats want to fix firmly in their minds?” Morrison: “That this country, and the government of this country, and it would appear the Democrats are the only government who is projecting this approach, lay out a plan for New Zealand’s prosperity. We decide where we are today. We decide what our resources are. We decide that we have three million very good people, well educated, and we lay out a strategy for the future. A strategy that will take us into the new century, only 13 years away, a strategy that will give every person in our society an opportunity and the justice that goes with it. A strategy that will give self-esteem to every person. A strategy that allows us to climb the technology ladder rung by rung and not go through some idiot performance, which National is promoting, of trying to compete with the mainland of China with 1.2 billion people. A strategy which finds us in the world, a strategy where we market our products, a strategy of moving up and giving prosperity, with some justice, to everybody in our country, to give them dignity and a lifestyle that is quite sustainable through well into the twenty-first century. And I’m asking the people of this country tonight, that tomorrow when they go to the polls, strike a real protest, a real protest, for the Democrats, a very, very positive protest for the Democrats, and we will give you the kind of society which we should have, which we can have, and we know is quite possible. Holmes: Mr Morrison and Mr Lipa thank you very much for your time tonight.” Announcer: “The New Zealand Democratic Party. Vote the positive protest for opportunity with justice. The New Zealand Democrats.” NZ Democrats. Make a positive protest. National closing address 1987 (after Democrats, at 20.20-39:40) Political party broadcast, National Party “This party-political broadcast is the closing address by the leader of the National Party, the Honourable Jim Bolger.” Text: “Getting it right!”. Hats: “Let’s get New Zealand right.” Announcer: “Over the past four weeks, National’s Jim Bolger has waged the most effective election campaign we have ever seen. He has carried his ‘Let’s get New Zealand right’ message up and down the country. Last night Jim Bolger’s campaign climaxed when he addressed a capacity audience of nearly 4,000 at the new Chase stadium in Auckland.” Jim Bolger: “Thank you, thank you Auckland. What a tremendous reception to a tremendous meeting. And I want to thank each and everyone of you who have worked so hard during this campaign. But I have one special person that I want to thank personally tonight and that Is my wife Joan for the tremendous work she has done.” “It has been great, and people know, people know we have been running a winning campaign. And that is part of the message I bring to this great hall this evening. That having travelled through the length and the breadth of New Zealand, there is a new mood, a new optimism, a new hope in New Zealand, and that is inspired by the belief, the knowledge, the certainty that there is going to be a new government after Saturday. That is the message. Poor old David. Three years in government and they don’t know what they want to do in the second three years. They can’t even agree among themselves, much less among the wider community, on what their policies should be. Or at least the ones they are going to tell us about. Because Simon Walker has told us the truth, that the secret agenda is back. The secret agenda has been released. That is the agenda to bring in a capital gains tax and a wealth tax and 15% GST. That is what Simon says. A bright young man Simon. They would have us give up traditional allies and friends, like Great Britain, like the United States. And to stand should to shoulder with Gaddafi’s Libya and Castro’s Cuba. That is the deal Labour wants to make. I say no, we will not. In New Zealand’s security interests, we need the assistance and the help of our traditional allies. But in saying that, we will not change from the policy laid down by Keith Holyoake, when he led the National Party, and that is we will not have nuclear weapons in New Zealand. We will go back into ANZUS, we’ll go back into ANZUS in the cause of peace, that is why we will go back into ANZUS. But we will tell our friends again, in the frankest possible terms, that we don’t want, don’t need nuclear weapons in New Zealand, and we will trust our allies. That is the difference. Sign: “National nuclear free with ANZUS.” Bolger: “I was moved this week that a young 14-year old girl, Susan, rang the party headquarters and said: “Tell Mr Bolger, I’ve been watching his campaign and the National Party’s campaign very closely. And his campaign gives me, a young New Zealander, hope.” And I was genuinely touched. What I thought to myself isn’t it good that the young New Zealander watching us can see a future. And I want to say is to Susan and all other young New Zealanders, that with a Jim Bolger led National Party there is an exciting future for you and all your friends in this country. There is an exciting future.” “Young people who want a future will be voting National on Saturday because we are the only party with a policy to give young New Zealanders a future. We will not betray your trust, we will not let you down, we will not walk away on you, when you need us most. That I assure young New Zealanders.” “Let us look at the record for the moment. 48,000 on the dole two years ago, 60,000 one year ago, and 84,000 today. That is the trend under Rogernomics. Nothing grows but the unemployment queues. No expenditure goes up faster than expenditure on the dole. As I said a moment ago, 5,000 more in June alone. And the forecasts are that it will get worse. And this government has not put one plan in place to stimulate the growth that is needed in the economy to provide the jobs, to give the private sector, to give the business community, to give the farmers the opportunity to generate jobs and opportunity for New Zealanders. My commitment tonight, is to provide that opportunity. To provide the training and to provide the community work if it is necessary. We will not continue to pay people to waste their lives doing nothing, we will not do that. Destroying people by paying them to do nothing. 17,000. “We have set out the most comprehensive policy on education ever presented before an electorate. A policy to reform, to rebuild, and to strengthen the education system in New Zealand so that again we will have a world class education system for our young New Zealanders.” “Our commitment is to provide all young New Zealanders with the opportunity of a relevant education. And to give them something extra, something new. Three years training at the end of the secondary school period, if they want it, in whatever area of education or skill they want to take up. Because we want to provide young New Zealanders with the skills so essential to build a modern New Zealand. That again is our commitment to the young because they are the greatest asset this nation has, and we will not desert the, we will not desert them.” “In every area the Labour Party has lost. They’ve lost the battle. There are fewer jobs, there are fewer businesses, less training, fewer teachers, fewer exports, less investment, higher inflation, higher interest rates, and more people living the country. Yes, they have brought change. But the change has not produced benefits. It has been unbalanced, it has been discriminatory, and the profit has only gone to the few. Every battle that the Labour government have entered into they have lost. They have achieved change at the price of defeat. Defeat for New Zealand workers. The equivalent of the total working population of the South Island has either left New Zealand or are predicted to be unemployed. A government has the responsibility, not just to achieve change, but to do it for the benefit of the whole nation and for all New Zealanders. And our economic policy sets that way ahead. That is what they are designed to achieve. There will be no turning back, but going forward with a balanced programme that will provide fair and equitable goals for each New Zealander. Fair to families. Fair to families, fair to farmers, fair to manufacturers, fair to all in the business community. But, above, all our policies will be fair to individual New Zealanders. There’s been great changes in the National Party in the last three years. We have spent our three years wisely, and as a result we bring you a renewed commitment to the principles of free enterprise, private ownership, and individual rights and responsibilities. That is the commitment we bring you. I wonder whether I should see whether this audience, like one or two others, has some firm views on the policies of the Labour government. Because I want to know whether you, citizens of Auckland, whether you want a capital gains tax?” Audience: “No.” Whether you want 15% GST? Audience: “No.” Whether you want more unemployment? Audience: “No.” I want to know whether you want David Lange to continue as Prime Minister. Audience: “No.” Well if you don’t want him, you’ve got to vote him out on Saturday because that is your opportunity as New Zealanders. To change the failed policies. The failed Lange government must go. Our policies are very clear, and we offer ourselves with a pledge that we will implement them. What we say we mean to put in place, a vote for National on Saturday is a vote for productive jobs. A vote for National is a vote for lower inflation. A vote for National is a vote for lower interest rates. A vote for National is a vote for lower personal and company tax. We will abolish, get rid of GST on basic foods, doctors’ fees, and local body rates. We will give families a break and bring the prices down for once, not having them always going up. We will abolish death and gift duties and take the surtax off National Superannuitants. We have no secret agenda. There will be no 15% GST under National. There will be no capital gains tax, no wealth tax, no tax on unrealised farm income. A vote for National will be a vote for a world class education system, offering choice of school, a return to known and proven standards, a return to a situation where young New Zealanders will come out with basic knowledge and basic skills. A vote for National is a vote to have safer streets. There will be more police. And National will give them, and National will give them the resources to do the job they must do on our behalf. A vote for National will be a vote for tougher punishment of criminals. We will make sure, we will make sure, we will make sure that the punishment fits the crime. I am not the sort of leader who will sit in Parliament and pretend that the ugly scenes of violence and terror are not happening today. I will not ignore that. I am not going to sit back and let thugs and criminals get the upper hand in this city or anywhere else. Because of what is happening in New Zealand today, under the Lange government. Which is all too ready to give rights to the criminals, but too slow to protect their victims. I say to the people of New Zealand, the time has come to get tough with the thugs in society. They have deliberately chosen to prey upon the weak and the helpless. We ladies and gentlemen, on your behalf, will give the police the resources and the law to allow them to fight back on your behalf. As the full significance of the Lange government’s failure sinks in, people are starting to feel very, very angry. My message is direct, don’t get angry, get even and vote them out on Saturday and vote in a new National government. That’s how you deal with it. It is time to have a government for all the people. Our bewildered nation needs strong and honest leadership and I’m prepared to provide that leadership. Leadership, leadership that will heal the divisions and unite the country. Leadership that is sensitive to the needs of the poor. Leadership that will liberate the talents of the young, while at the same time provide security for the old. This election, think not only of yourself, but of your family, of your neighbour, and of our country. As new Zealanders, as New Zealanders united in a common cause there is no goal we cannot reach. Together we can make it all happen. This Saturday, this Saturday it will happen in ballot boxes across the nation. This Saturday, a new National government will be born. This Saturday we will get across. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Announcer: “It is now just a few hours before the polls open for the 1987 election. By this time tomorrow night New Zealand will be welcoming a new Prime Minister, a new government, and a new future. Tomorrow, let’s get New Zealand right. Vote National.” Labour 1987 closing address (after National on Democrats file, 39.45 to 50.00) Text: August 16th 1987. Announcer: “What kind of New Zealand will we have on Sunday August the 16th? What kind of country will we wake up to? Will we still hold our head high in the world of international affairs? Will we still be in charge of our own environment? Will we still be nuclear free? When Prime Minister David Lange debated our nuclear policy on the world-stage, the world listened. When our country stood strong others began to listen too. And from caring people everywhere we received messages of support.” Bruce Weitz: “I’m Bruce Weitz and feel privileged to have this opportunity to congratulate you for your action against the nuclear madness that much of the world seems committed to today. You have taken a courageous step in passing anti-nuclear legislation, and I, and millions like me, support you and encourage you to stand firm in your decision to remain nuclear free.” Edward Asner: “I’m Edward Asner and I must say this is a great honour for me. For I don’t believe that anyone in their right mind really wants to live with nuclear weapons and the threat of a nuclear war. Unfortunately, much of the world isn’t shaped that way. Much of the world is locked into the nuclear race. And while you New Zealanders may feel you stand alone in your desire for a nuclear free planet, please be assured that while we cannot vote with you, for you, great numbers of non-New Zealanders applaud you for your courageous action in declaring New Zealand a nuclear free zone. I thank you for sharing, and showing, the rest of the world it can be done. And truly wish you remain a leader in the movement for a nuclear free world.” Announcer: “Today, as the superpowers debate, they talk more and more seriously of arms reduction, of destroying the nuclear stockpile, of pulling back from the brink of nuclear annihilation. Will we still lead the way on August 16th? Or will we once more fall back and leave it to others. Text: The choice is yours. There is a choice and tomorrow it is your choice. And what will be the economy we will have for the next three years. Will we continue the job of rebuilding, or will we once again put it apart (Southland Times clipping: A return to the past?). Will we return to the controls, the subsidies (newspaper headline: Free or managed float: Bolger blurs his stand), the economic tinkering (Evening Post editorial heading: National – and the Muldoon quandary) that nearly brought this country to its knees in 1984 (heading: Muldoon contradicts dollar policy). There is a choice. And tomorrow it is your choice. Will our children go to school next term with a clear basic and understanding education system before them. Or will we trust them to a party which let our education service run down, which refused to employ the teachers we needed, which caused so much damage this government has had to put in three years’ hard work just to repair it. Tomorrow, there is a choice on education. Tomorrow that choice is yours. And what of the National Party? Well was it not National who flew (Dominion heading: Bolger allows gallows plebiscite) the hangman’s noose to massage your emotions on violent crime. Was it not Mr Bolger (newspaper headline: Mr Bolger attacked by own M.P.) who, for the sake of a cheer from the faithful, dived deep into personal abuse. Was it not National who announced one economic policy (Newspaper headline: National split on policy), then another, then another. Until finally their finance spokesman Mr George Gair said “I’m confused”. Was it not National who introduced this election to the most incredible (Newspaper heading: Nats’ old soliders lack attack) session of double speak this country has ever known. A policy for whoever you are talking to became the strategy for power. Was it not National, who without prompting, announced they would cut one billion (Newspaper headline: National still looking for place in political world) dollars off the government deficit and sat back smug never dreaming that anyone would have the audacity to ask them from where the cuts would come. And when they were asked they didn’t answer. And they have not answered yet. Text and voice: “More than any election decision most of us have ever faced, this election in the mildness of an autumn like winter in 1987, will decide a future far longer, far more important than just the next three years. It will in a large way, show this country what it is made of. For this country already is a winner. It has won on the international stage with a nuclear free policy that is at once honest and sensible. It is winning in the economy, with a new fairness and honesty whose benefits are only now beginning to really emerge. It has won in the classroom, where the old systems that National politicians propped up for so long, are now gone and forgotten. And it has won back its pride. Text: There is a choice. The choice is yours. Announcer: “Tomorrow there is a choice. Tomorrow that choice is yours. The Prime Minister: David Lange.” David Lange: “Let’s talk about what this election means to you, what it means for the people you care for, and what it means to our country. It is your change to stay on course. It has been a tough three years, but, you know, it had to be. Together we’ve done in three years what the government’s opponents refused to face up to. We abandoned the easy option, we simply couldn’t let our economy tie itself into a tighter and tighter knot. We couldn’t keep borrowing to avoid the change. We couldn’t live forever in a freeze on wages and prices. In 1984, this country decided we had to get up and go to work. We were determined to pay our way, we faced the facts. We couldn’t keep on subsidising our principal export earner, while arguing for other countries’ protected markets to be opened to us. Although we knew we had to take that course, there are many of you who have suffered real dislocation in your lives, you’ve had to face daunting challenges to secure your future. Throughout New Zealand producers have been tested by the need to satisfy a market and not a subsidy. We have started to live within our means and the pressure of that compounded the burden of interest rates. So many people were affected, that our opponents thought they had to simplify identify the pain and the prize of government would fall into their lap. Well New Zealanders are more acute in their judgment than that. There is an understanding that we could not go on as we were before, that there was on easy answer, no miracle cure. Now you are seeing the first signs of the economy coming right. Independent commentators are saying that inflation will be under 9% by March next year. That will mean your interest rates will be lower. Your job security or prospects enhanced. And your standard of living will rise because of real growth in the economy. But it means more than money. It means that New Zealand can turn to restoring the social services. It means better health services, making it easier to see a doctor if you need to. Cutting down the waiting lists at public hospitals. It means increasing our investment in education. I’ve talked all through this campaign about the importance of education. We need it for people, we need it for our future. This government has already put a lot of resources into education in the early years at school to get the basics right. We’ve helping more young people get the qualifications they need to get a good start in life. We know that there is more to be done. Starting at pre-school, then making sure that every young person who leaves school can read, write and count. And going right through to the universities and every kind of continuing education. Education is vital to our economy. Our businesses and industries are desperately in need of people with skills. There are people who have got to have a chance to learn the skills they need to get a job. It is simply a fact that so many of the chances we have in life depend on the education we get. This Labour government is determined that all New Zealanders will get a fair chance. That is what your vote is about tomorrow. You can build on these last three years, or you can go back to the failures of the past. You can assert New Zealand’s voice in the world, or you can go back to dependence on nuclear weapons. You can help use our economy to secure a future for our young, and our disadvantaged, or you can go back to the system of political mateship, which is the hallmark of our opponents. You’ve never had a clearer choice. When you vote tomorrow, I ask you to think of the New Zealand we could have here. Don’t throw away three years’ hard work in three seconds in a polling booth. When you are there for Labour tomorrow, you are there for New Zealand. Text: Be there with Labour. The choice is yours.