National 2008 “Where the sand creates the tide, where the oceans collide, that is where I long to be, in a brave country.” Key: “one of the things I’m most passionate about in politics is education. I know from personal experience education is a liberator. It brings hope and opportunity to children from even the most disadvantaged background. So, if we are to ensure that the young people of today, are armed to meet the challenges of tomorrow we have to make sure they have a world class education that will allow them to succeed. The trouble is right now that a third of New Zealand kids leave school without even NCEA level two, the basic qualification required for further training. And what is more, one in five young New Zealanders leave school without NCEA level one. And that is just not good enough. And that is why I am going to launch a crusade of literary and numeracy. National will make education relevant for a greater number of kids, with trades in schools, developing practical school based apprenticeships with more practical learning opportunities outside the classroom and specialist trades academies. Text: Crusade for literacy and numeracy. Text: School-based apprenticeships. Text: Specialist trades academies. “A National government will be absolutely focussed on raising education standards, making changes across the school system to ensure that it is working for every child. You have my absolute word on that. “We all know that violent crime has gone through the roof in New Zealand. But did you know that the worst assaults have almost doubled in the last nine years. One of National’s absolute priorities will be to crack down on violent crime. We’ll toughen the bail laws, sentencing and parole laws. We’ll keep violent offenders off our streets, starting with no parole for the worst repeat violent offenders. Violent youth offending is at an all-time high. It is estimated about a thousand young offenders commit most of the serious youth crime. We’ll move swiftly to tackle this ticking time bomb. We’ll set up fresh start programmes where young offenders can be sent for residential training at army-style courses giving them the clear boundaries they so desperately need and a sense of self-discipline and personal responsibility. Then, when they leave the courses they will be closely monitored and mentored to ensure they are staying on the rails. Text: Toughen bail, sentencing and parole laws. Text: No parole for worst repeat violent offenders. Text: Fresh start programmes for young offenders. “We can make our communities safer. All you have to do is choose it.” “We all know our economy has got a lot more challenging this year. The tougher international situation has helped tip our economy into recession. Unfortunately the current government has been asleep at the wheel, failing to cut personal taxes in the good times, so this slow-down has been tougher on kiwis that is should have been. National has developed a comprehensive five point plan, which will kick-start New Zealand out of its current recession. Firstly, we’ll put some real discipline around government spending. In harder times like these it is vital that the government is as careful with your taxes as you have to be with your own budget. And under Labour that discipline just hasn’t been there. Text: National’s five-point economic plan. Text: Introduce discipline to government spending. Secondly we will hold the massive growth in head office bureaucracy and put the money saved into front-line areas like education and health. Text: Halt growth in head office bureaucracy. Text: Move money to frontline services. “What is more we will untangle the extra red tape, the bureaucracy has created, which has strangled New Zealand businesses. Text: Cut through red tape. “Third we’ll reduce personal taxes. Our full costed tax package will lower personal taxes steadily over the next three years, providing immediate incentives for our workers to stay in New Zealand and to work hard, and to get ahead. Our personal tax cuts will also flow through into larger superannuation payments for retired New Zealanders. Text: Ongoing personal tax cuts. Text: Larger superannuation payments. “We will pay for our tax package by making adjustments to Kiwi Saver, and by removing the R&D tax credit for companies. No matter what our opponents say, National’s tax package will not require any additional borrowing and we’ve had that independently verified. It is about making choices, and in these tighter economic times the right choice is to lower personal taxes so you can pay the bills and the country can get going again more quickly. Text: No additional borrowing for tax cuts. Text: Lower taxes to get economy moving. Points four and five are about strengthening New Zealand’s economy into the future. National will have an absolute focus on achieving higher standards in education, and we’ll be investing more into the twenty-first century infrastructure like ultra-fast broadband to remove the bottlenecks that are slowing our growth. Text: Higher standards in education. Text: Invest for our future. “New Zealand has always been a great place to live, work, and raise a family. But the past nine years has become a story of lost opportunities. When the economy was going okay, the current government failed to take advantage of that to reduce taxes or increase growth, or to assist our financial security, or to make real improvements to those very important public services like health, education, or law enforcement. You work hard, you do the right thing, you pay your taxes and you try to raise your family responsibly. You are entitled to expect the same level of commitment and responsibility from your government. If you give your party vote to National tomorrow, you have my absolute word that the next National government will be focused on the issues that matter to you. We can have a much brighter future in New Zealand; all you have to do is choose it. Announcer: “It is time to change. Party vote National and choose a brighter future.” Text: Party Vote National: Choose a brighter future. Labour 2008 closing Clark: “We are experiencing the worst international financial crisis since the 1930s. That is bad. And New Zealand can’t be immune from that. We go into it in a very position because the Labour government has achieved tremendous growth rates and very low unemployment. Now we have a plan to take New Zealand through this downturn so we come through in good shape for when international trading conditions improve again. Our priority going forward is jobs, jobs, jobs. We need to keep this economy moving ahead so that our people have real jobs. We’ve been tremendously successful in getting unemployment down. That is the way we want to keep it. And we as a Labour government can be very, very proactive in making sure that our economy continues to be job rich even in a slow-down. Strong and proven leadership I think it is all about values, it is about strong, proven leadership, which has been through a crisis or two, doesn’t panic under pressure, and has a clear plan to get our economy going even in a downturn. On the other hand, you’ve got the National Party. It says cut public spending (Text: Cut public spending). They want to sell things (Text: Sell public assets). They want to sell our Kiwibank, and other state assets. Trust in Labour Over the years we’ve been in government we’ve run a strong economy. We’ve got government debt so under control that we’re in a net positive position (Text: Low Crown debt) with the Crown debt. We’ve got unemployment low (Text: Low unemployment), we’ve had good growth rates and we have invested back in the basics which really count for Kiwis. Working for families (Text: Working for Families), a good level of NZ Super (Text: NZ Superannuation), a education system (Text: Education), health system, (Text: Health), lower doctor’s fees, one of the greatest things we’ve done. Text: The financial crisis I think that this crisis was produced by very greedy people, by speculators, by money traders, who had a deck of cards in the international financial system. That deck of cards collapsed, and that hurts real people, with real families and real jobs. Our job, as a Labour government in New Zealand, has to be to limit the fall out here and keep planning for jobs, employment, investment in our country going ahead. Plan for dealing with the global downturn We’ve set out a plan, number one to stabilise the financial system with the bank deposit guarantees (Text: Bank deposit guarantees) scheme, we’ve worked on that parallel with what is happening in Australia. We’ve worked to ease the burden of provisional tax (Text: Eased provisional tax) on our employer. And we’ve set out the things Labour is prepared to do bringing forward very important public spending, bringing forward programmes that support home ownership, bringing forward programmes like retro-fitting our old and damp homes. Maybe some areas reafforestation our back hills. (Text: Bringing Forward: • Public spending • Programmes for home ownership • Retro-fitting old homes • Reafforestation) We have a lot of ideas about how to get job rich projects going should unemployment look like it is taking off. Leadership on the economy New Zealand is in a strong economic position because over the previous eight years of good economic growth we’ve got our unemployment right down and we’ve invested in the basics. We’ve invested in our people, in education and apprenticeships and other skills training, we’ve built up our health system, we’ve really done a tremendous amount to support the living standards of our families through Working for Families, lower doctor’s fees, 20 hours free early childhood education, interest free student loans, and all the support that has come to our superannuitants. We don’t want any of that cut. We pledge to maintain our public spending on all these important programmes and to look after our people in very challenging circumstances. Investing and growing for the future Our plan is about investing and growing for the future. And we can’t stop that during a downturn. It is even more important to be making sure our people get a chance to be educated, to get skilled. We have new policies to support student (Text: Support for tertiary students) going to university and Polytechnic. We’ve got plans for more modern apprenticeships (Text: Modern apprenticeships). For more people (Text: On-the-job training) to be doing training while in a job. We’ve got plans (Text: Redundancy re-training allowance) for re-training allowances for workers who are made redundant. We’ve got plans too to help the couple where both have been earning, and one loses a job. National’s record In tough economic times the National Party is known for slashing public spending. Be very afraid of what that means for our health system, our education services, for our superannuitants and our families. National is also known for selling state assets, for privatising our public services. Listening to New Zealanders People are saying to me they are worried about the future, looking at the international economy. They want to know that Labour will be there with a plan for them and their families. What they don’t want is public services cut, state assets sold, they want positive plans. And I’ve been able to reassure our people that Labour has a plan and we will come through this crisis in good shape as a country with that plan. No time to gamble with the future In the middle of the worst international financial crisis since the 1930s, this is not a time to be changing horses midstream. We offer from Labour a very strong and senior ministerial team to lead New Zealand Leadership for difficult times For proven leadership, to get us through difficult times, vote Labour tomorrow. Text: Vote Labour. Maori Party 2008 closing (3.00) Maori Party He aha te mea nui? www.maoriparty.co.nz Hon Tariana Turia: “On Saturday, we are asking you to believe in yourself. To believe that with your support the Maori Party can make a real difference. And to believe that we can all work together to invest in the promise of every person. We want all our mokopuna to get the best possible start in life.” Te Ururoa Flavell: “We should pull out all stops to ensure that our story is about academic success, not about system failure. We want every person to enjoy the dignity and pride of meaningful work.” Rahui Katene, Te Tai Tonga: “We support health, thriving communities. Whanau ora, its knowing our families are our greatest strength. Investing in whanau is investing in a future where we determine our own destiny. It is not about what any government can do for us. It is about what we can do for each other.” Older Pakeha man: “You don’t have to be a Maori to give your party vote to the Maori Party. But you do have to care about the country we all live in and the people living here.” Angeline Greensill, Hauraki-Waikato. “We know how proud we are of Aotearoa. Let us keep it in our hands for the sake of our tamariki and our mokopuna. We must protect and preserve our natural heritage, our whenua, our awa, our maunga, our taonga.” Dr. Pita Sharples: “And that is why our ancestors signed up to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. To build a nation, where the rich abundance of our natural resources would be taken care of. Including the most precious of our natural resources: our people.” Young woman: “The Treaty is a promise of our ancestors for a future together. It is the document which founded this country.” Pictures of New Zealand and Maori flag. Sharples: “We believe in the Treaty and the partnership it proclaims. And we continue to live by it, to honour it, and we invite you to do the same. To create the future we all deserve we will eliminate child poverty by 2020. The Maori Party will drop GST off food. Reduce tax for those earning under $25,000. Re-instate a universal child benefit. And lift the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. Real wages for real work.” Derek Fox, Ikaroa Rawhiti. “We must ensure our economy operates with social responsibility, alongside fiscal wisdom. Everyone has potential, it is just a matter of finding the key to unlock it.” Turia: “Tomorrow your vote can give us the chance to ensure a strong and independent Maori voice that will help shape our future as a nation that we are all proud to call home.” Sharples: “And remember, everyone can give their party vote to the Maori Party.” Children: “What is the greatest thing?” Sharples: “Koutou. It is you!” Maori Party. For a better future together. www.maoriparty.co.nz NZF 2008 closing TV broadcast (3.00) Winston Peters: “Good evening. They say that he who is without fault should cast the first stone. Well, we’ve made mistakes, every party has. But these were human mistakes, not crimes. We’ve been cleared by every independent agency, of any wrong-doing, from the Serious Fraud Office through to the Electoral Commission. Nobody in the media has apologised. The past few months has been like a game of rugby: plenty of eye-gouging and taking the man out without the ball, while the media acted like blind touch judges. This is not the New Zealand I grew up in, and it shows an ugly face of politics. It takes courage to stand up to an orchestra of buffoons and those manipulating the direction of New Zealand for personal gain. It takes courage to stand up and defend the country against organised crime. Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others. We have the courage to stand and defend the rights of our seniors. We promised the Super Gold card, we delivered. The Super Gold card now offers free off-peak travel on public transport and thousands and thousands of business outlets are offering discounts to seniors because of New Zealand First. We delivered the Super Gold card. Free off peak travel. Promising power discounts and cheaper doctors visits. We have the courage to defend the rights of our community to an extra 1,000 frontline police to eliminate the gangs that feed P to our children. We will defend the rights of New Zealanders to keep their jobs and homes and to keep their assets and their banks. We will defend all of your rights because we will stand, defend, and deliver in the face of adversity. I ask that you judge me by what I have delivered over the years, and now by what I promise, not by what others tell you to believe. There are many people in history who have been beaten up and persecuted for standing up for the rights of others. I will not be intimidated by those with vested interests and secret motives. Those who came disguised in the shape of blue chip: Bridgecorp all money traders that used the financial system and innocent people for their personal gain. 1,000 extra frontline police. Keep NZ owned banks. Defend all your rights. I have delivered. I will not be intimidated. NZF will stand up to the money traders. The rules of engagement have changed. The world is not as we knew it. We all need the courage to learn, unlearn and relearn. If you want to keep your job, your home, your community, your super, over the next three years, New Zealand First is your insurance. If you want to take control of your destiny, and that of your country, to rebuild New Zealand banks, to take on and out compete foreign banks and keep productive profits in our country, and not someone else’s, if you want the 56 billion of government money, your money, per annum going through our banks, not an Aussie bank, if you want the wealth we create to be ours to enjoy, then New Zealand First is your party. Give New Zealand First your party vote to protect and save your New Zealand. Protect and save your New Zealand. Green Party closing broadcast 2008 (3.00) Music: “We live on an island.” Fitzsimons: “Every child born into this world inherits our legacy. What sort of world are we going to give them? What kind of life will they enjoy? How healthy will they be? Will the food they eat be nutritious and safe? How much debt will they have? And what will the climate hold in store for them? Norman: “Only one party has a plan for how we can live well and protect our beautiful planet.” Fitzsimons: “We in the Green Party are proud of our hard-won achievements over the 12 years we’ve been in Parliament. In just the last three years, we’ve created and passed five new pieces of Green legislation.” Recycling only Norman: “This means we’ve made improvements that reduce waste, safeguard our children and improve workers’ lives. We also initiated the highly successful buy Kiwi made programme. And recently, we secured a $1 billion fund to make our homes warm, dry and energy efficient.” Fitzsimons: “With just six Green MPs we’ve made New Zealand a better place to live; think what we could do with more.” Vote for me. Party Vote Green Fitzsimons: “We know life has been getting tougher for many New Zealanders. And how we respond to the financial downturn, to climate change and the end of cheap petrol will be crucial in the quality of life that we, and our children, enjoy.” Norman: “The current financial meltdown demand new thinking about economics. It is time to invest in better public transport, warm homes and clean energy. Time to live up to our clean green reputation.” Fitzsimons: “If we take care of the real economy, our homes, our food, our farms, our jobs, we can turn crisis into opportunity.” Vote for me. Party vote Green. Music: “We live on an island.” Fitzsimons: “What will our children think of the decisions that we make today. We are prepared to take responsibility for that. We have the vision, and the effective solutions.” Norman: “The Green Party needs your party vote to get more Green MPs. Now, more than ever, our country needs a strong Green voice in Parliament.” Music: “We live on this mountain.” Fitzsimons: “On November the 8th do something good. Make your party vote Green.” Music: “We live on a mountain. We live on an island.” Mo nga uri, mo te ao. Vote for me. Music: “We live on a mountain. We live on an island.” Party vote Green. Progressive Party 2008 closing broadcast (3.00) Text: Progressive. The strength to care. Anderton: “I’ve been around for a while, both as someone who has run a large business and as someone who has been in Parliament for a long time. One thing my experience has taught me is that every election is about change. But it is a question of change to what. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a caring New Zealand. We had, as a generation, a government that cared about us. Free healthcare, free education, full employment, housing loans, affordable homes for our families, just an incredible opportunity. That has given me a chance to give back to my country everything I possibly could because I was treated so well. I want to see that happen to future New Zealanders. I want to be part of a government that has the strength to care. I think we’ve been doing that for the last nine years, rebuilding New Zealand. New Zealanders have learnt a bit about the importance of asking what plans politicians have in store for them. It is simply not acceptable for people on really low and fixed incomes to face the chilling reality of what it takes sometimes just to simply keep warm.” $200 of your winter power bill. Jim Anderton’s Progressive. “We propose that households get $200 off their power bills to ease the high cost of heating in winter months. A lot of New Zealanders on fixed incomes don’t have much spare cash, especially these days. For instance, if you have a problem with your teeth, bang 400 bucks right there. Shouldn’t dental care be within the reach of everyone?” Dental care within everyone’s reach. Jim Anderton’s Progressive. “We propose that access to dental care should be more accessible and affordable for those who can’t afford to see a dentist. These days we’ve got to help our vulnerable teenagers. Give them a chance, a future to live for.” Vulnerable teenagers need our care. Jim Anderton’s Progressive. “We propose that we protect our vulnerable teenagers from unemployment, from the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse, and from suicide. A few years ago they told us New Zealanders couldn’t have their own bank. Now 650,00 New Zealanders belong to Kiwi Bank. It is ours. It is a huge success. Don’t let them sell our bank.” We won’t let them sell Kiwibank. Jim Anderton’s Progressive. Matt Robson – Deputy Leader: “If you vote for the Progressive Party with your party vote this election you will place people in Parliament who will challenge a potentially dominant attitude. Give your party vote to the Progressive Party.” Anderton: “You’ve got to be logical. You’ve got to be practical. And you’ve got to find the inner strength to care for people. Always have, always will.” www.progressive.org.nz Announcer: “Party vote Jim Anderton’s Progressive Party.” Music: “Because I know you care.” United Future 2008 closing (3.00) United Future Peter Dunne: “I’m Peter Dunne, leader of United Future. The billboards are coming down, tomorrow you have your say. Like me, you’ll have had enough of all the empty promises and hollow words. In these troubled times you’ll be looking for politicians you can trust. Real people that talk with you, not at you. People who listen. We’ve heard your message about tax. So our policy is simple and fair.” United Future - Simple fair tax. “10% up to $12,000, 20% up to $38,000, and 30% above that. With voluntary income splitting for parents with dependent children. United Future - Getting rid of student debt. “We listened to parents and students worried about student loan debts that drive graduates overseas and split families. We proposed to abolish all student fees and slash debts by half in 2010. That will cost the same as the student allowances proposed by other parties, but free tertiary fees says so much more about the country we want to be.” United Future - Looking after our seniors. Our senior citizens seek surety when it comes to getting medical treatment, where and when it is needed. We’ve proposed a healthcare insurance fund that works like ACC does for healthcare needs. And a free annual warrant of fitness check for everyone. United Future – Listening to you “You want your say on the future of MMP, the Maori seats, on whether we become a republic. We want binding referenda on these issues in the next three years. The new government will face many challenges as we recover from the current international crisis. We won’t allow yesterday’s policies to be brought back to solve tomorrow’s problems. We are a party of fresh ideas, not hide-bound ideologies. We’re not stuck rigid in party politics. We don’t get caught up in petty Parliamentary squabbles. We have shown that we do work constructively with government. The reality is New Zealand needs a change. These times demand new ideas from a new leadership. Ideas that will help get the engine of our economy going again. United Future – Real Solutions. We are putting forward real solutions to the issues confronting our country today, solutions that New Zealand needs right now. In making your vote tomorrow you’ll have to decide who you trust to keep our new government honest. Who has the compassion to govern for all, not just those at the fringes? Who cares about what matters to you and your family? United Future will treat you with dignity. As always, we’ll use common sense to keep the new government on track, and in touch with what real families want. To bring about this much needed change I’m asking you to give your party vote to United Future. United Future. Party Vote. Act 2008 closing (3.00) Act Party Rodney Hide: “Are you voting for a change in government” Young woman: “Oh god, yes! Absolutely. And the tax cuts.” Hide: “You want a change of government you are sick of…” Young man: “Absolutely. I am sick of that. I’m not going to vote for Labour, that is for sure.” Hide: “What we’ve got to do is get a National government, we’ve got to get a strong coalition partner” Young man: “I’m definitely voting National, that is going to happen. So are you going to make a coalition with National?” Hide: “Yes, I can only make a coalition if I get your party vote.” Young people: “Ahh” Hide: “Are you going to vote for us?” Man: “Always do.” Hide: “You’re going to get a change in government too.” Man: “I like that as well.” Hide: “Well it is up to you now, how you choose. You decide where New Zealand goes from here. All the polls over the last year have said the same thing. Over 50% of you want a change in government. You want smarter policies, better policies. You want less power to the state and more power to the people. You want choice, and you want change.” Woman: “Good luck.” Hide: “Thank you.” Woman: “Good luck.” Hide: “I’m Rodney Hide.” People: “I know. I like your policies.” Hide: “You like the policies?” Person: “Of course.” Hide: “Good on you.” Hide: “Are you going to be voting at this election?” Man: “Yes, I’ll vote for you.” Hide: “You’ve got the power now. Remember that. It’ll be your vote that changes New Zealand. And here’s the thing. The next government won’t be one party, it will be two or three, working together, cooperating, getting along with each other.” Hide to black people: “Are you going to vote for a change of government?” Man: “Definitely.” Hide: “Good. How are you young man? What is your name? This one?” Boy: “Tim.” Hide: “Andrew. You’ve got a haircut like mine!” People: Laughter. Woman: “It looks quite different doesn’t it.” Woman: “Hey can you give us a bit of a whirl?” Hide: “Sure.” Woman: “Oh my goodness.” Hide: “How is that?” Woman: “Oh I don’t know if I know that step.” Hide: “No, nor do I.” Laughter. Man: “Me too.” Hide: “Okay. You are a Labour Party supporter! You are a Labour Party supporter!” Man: “No I don’t support Labour.” Hide: “Our next government isn’t going to be one party. That doesn’t happen under MMP. It is going to be a coalition. Not one set of policies but two or three. And they have to match, they have to fit. They have to work together to give results, or we are in big trouble.” Hide: “Now you are wanting a change in government?” Woman: “Oh you can bet your life baby.” Hide: “Well I want you to give your party vote to the Act party, you get a change in government and a change…” Woman: “I won’t vote for anybody else.” Man: “How are you going?” Hide: “Good. Are you looking for a change in government?” Man: “Definitely man!” Hide: “Party vote Act?” Man: “Oh, National, man.” Hide: “What about us?” Woman: “I’m certaintly voting for you, and so is my sister.” Hide: “So here we go. It is decision 08 and for the more than 50% of you that want a change in government, congratulations. We need it. And remember this (sign: Party vote Act) your party vote is really your policy vote. It is the vote that will put your issues on the agenda. Law and order, no more nanny state, and end to the emissions trading scheme, lower taxes, more choices, a future here for your children.” Man: “Good luck mate, knock them for six.” Hide: “Thank you.” Hide: “You know what we offer. You know what you want. If our policies are your policies you know what you’ve got to do. Be the difference, act now.” Party Vote Act. Hide: “Party vote Act. Party vote Act and you’re on the agenda.”