Brief Party Description
Social Credit was formed as a political party in 1953. It has stood candidates in every election since, gained 21% of the nationwide vote in 1981 and had 6 MPs elected to parliament. For all that time we've said the Reserve Bank could create money to benefit the country. Economists, commentators, the media, and other politicians said that couldn't happen. Since the virus arrived, the Reserve Bank is creating $100 billion. So we were right all along.
But instead of funding the government directly it is buying existing government bonds (IOU's for money they lent to the government in the past) from banks, pension funds and rich investors.
Meanwhile the government is borrowing more money from those same people. The bond dealers (mainly banks) are 'clipping the ticket' at the taxpayers expense. Taxpayers pay about $5 billion every year in interest and they have to pay back the debt. That money should be going into hospitals, schools, housing, and a multitude of other things the community needs, not generating profits for overseas bank shareholders.
What the Reserve Bank should be doing is directly funding the government. That way no government debt and no interest payments.
Following the 2017 General Election, the Party retained 9 seats in the House of Representatives and formed a Coalition Government with the New Zealand Labour Party. Party Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, became Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Party secured three other Cabinet positions and an Undersecretary role.
At the core of New Zealand First's policies are our "Fifteen Fundamental Principles", which emphasise accountable and transparent government, common-sense social and economic policy, and the placing of the interests of New Zealand, and New Zealanders, at the forefront of Government decision-making.
Three top priorities for young people from Ōtautahi
Opportunity - in education, training, jobs.
Three priorities to address inequity in education
Free education - no fees - from primary to university and polytechnics. More teacher support staff, especially at primary level. Boosting family incomes so children are fed better and can learn better.
Three priorities to address inequity in healthcare
Substantially increase DHB funding. Maximum $20 fee for GP and dentist visits. Pay medical staff better so that they stay and work in NZ.
Three priorities to address high youth suicide rates
Better education, training and employment to create a future to look forward to. Introduction of 'resilience' courses in schools - how to deal with disappointment, bullying, relationship breakdown, etc. Increase family incomes so that one parent can afford to stay at home to invest time in their children up to at least 8 years old.
Three priorities to address mental health issues
Increase funding for mental health services and more therapists. See answer above for other priorities.
Three priorities to address climate change
Reduce overstocking on farms, provide no interest loans to councils to improve infrastructure, pursue alternative fuels to oil.
Three priorities to address racism in Aotearoa
Abstain
Three priorities to address child and youth poverty
$4.6 billion of new Reserve Bank money to boost low incomes, make the first $20,000 of income tax free, pay families a child payment of $30 per week. $3.4 billion for housing to build state houses, initiate rent to own scheme so families pay a maximum of only 25% of income on housing.
Three priorities to address and support youth employment
Better, free, education, training and employment partnerships with business to create a future to look forward to.
Three priorities to support the pacific nations
Work with the administration in each Pacific country to tap the potential of their unique climate and environment to grow food crops or produce uniquely Pacific products and assist with finding markets for those products so that people from the Pacific could remain in their own countries and earn a reasonable income without the need to uproot and move to New Zealand to achieve that.
What are three things your party will do to ensure that young people engaging with politicians will be safe?
Abstain