New Zealand Democratic Party

:"This article is about the modern party based around the social credit theory. It should not be confused with the pro-business Democratic Party founded in 1934."

Infobox New Zealand Political Party
name_english = New Zealand Democratic Party
name_maori =
party_
party_wikicolourid = GPANZ
leader = Stephnie de Ruyter
president = Neville Aitchison
deputy = John Pemberton
mps = 0
foundation = 1953
ideology = Social Credit Direct Democracy Economic Democracy Industrial Democracy Left-wing Nationalism
international =
colours = Green
headquarters = P.O. Box 18-907 New Brighton, 8641 Christchurch
website = [http://www.democrats.org.nz www.democrats.org.nz]

The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia. The party does not currently hold any seats in parliament, although it has previously held two. Democratic Party members also held seats when the party was part of the Alliance. The party was formerly known as the Social Credit Party, and was for many years the largest minor party in New Zealand politics. The party's economic policy is still based on Social Credit theories, while in social matters, the party takes a position similar to progressive liberal parties elsewhere.

Policies

The Democratic Party describes its foremost goal as being the recovery of "economic sovereignty". This will be accomplished, the party says, by "the reform of the present monetary system, which is the major cause of war, poverty, inflation and many other social problems." The reforms promoted by the Democratic Party are based on the ideas of Social Credit. The party emphasises "economic democracy", claiming that New Zealand's economy must be reclaimed from the control of financiers, bankers, and money-lenders.

The Democratic Party also supports taxation reform, including the removal of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the imposition of a tax on financial transactions (a Tobin tax). They also support the introduction of a Universal Basic Income (see external link below).

The Democratic Party states that "what is physically possible and desirable for the happiness of humanity can always be financially possible."

History

Origins

The New Zealand Democratic Party was originally established as the Social Credit Political League, and later became the Social Credit Party. For more information on the party's early history, see the main Social Credit Party article.

When the Democrats adopted their present name, they held two seats in parliament - one was East Coast Bays, held by Gary Knapp, and the other was Pakuranga, held by Neil Morrison. Two years after the new name was adopted, in the 1987 elections, the Democrats lost these two seats, removing them from parliament. In 1988, Gary Knapp and a group of other Democrats were involved in a protest at parliament, criticising the First Past the Post electoral system that prevented their success.

1993-1999

The Democrats, finding themselves increasingly pressured by the growth of NewLabour (founded by rebel Labour Party MP Jim Anderton) and the Greens, opted to increase cooperation with compatible parties. This resulted in the Democrats joining NewLabour, the Greens, and Māori-based party Mana Motuhake in forming the Alliance, a broad left-wing coalition group.

In the 1996 election, which was conducted under the new Mixed member proportional representation (MMP) electoral system, the Alliance won thirteen seats. Among the MPs elected were John Wright and Grant Gillon, both members of the Democratic Party.

However, there was considerable dissatisfaction in the Democratic Party over the Alliance's course. Many Democrats believed that their views were not being incorporated into Alliance policy, particularly as regards the core economic doctrine of Social Credit. The Alliance as a whole tended towards "orthodox" left-wing economics, and was not prepared to implement the Democratic Party's somewhat unusual economic theories.

1999-2002

By the 1999 election, the Democrats were one of only two remaining parties in the Alliance: the Greens had left the grouping, and the Liberals and NewLabour components formally dissolved, their members becoming members of the Alliance as a whole rather than of any specific constituent party.

2002-2005

In 2002, when tensions between the "moderate left" and the "hard left" caused a split in the Alliance, the Democrats followed Jim Anderton's moderate faction and became a part of the Progressive Coalition. In the 2002 elections, Grant Gillon and John Wright were placed third and fourth on the party's list. The Progressives, however, won only enough votes for two seats, thus leaving the two Democrats outside parliament.

Shortly after the election, the Democrats split from the Progressives, re-establishing themselves as an independent party. However, Grant Gillon (the party's leader) and John Wright, both of whom opposed the split, chose not to follow the Democrats, instead remaining with the Progressives. The Progressive Coalition became the Progressive Party after the Democrats left. The Democrats chose Stephnie de Ruyter, who had been fifth on the Progressive list, as their new leader.

In 2005, the party added "for Social Credit" to its official name. The Democrats contested that year's general election as an independent party but only managed to receive 0.05% of the Party Vote. The party was unable to regain the support it held when it was known as Social Credit.

Electoral results

Office-holders

Organisational President

* Neville Aitchison (20xx-present)

Vice-President

* Bruce Beetham (1971-1972)

Parliamentary Party Leader

* Wilfrid Owen (1953-1960)
* P.H. Matthews (1960-19xx)
* Vernon Cracknell (19xx-1970)
* John O'Brien (1970-1972)
* Bruce Beetham (1972-1986)
* Neil Morrison (1986-
* John Wright (1991-2001)
* Grant Gillon (2001-2002)
* Stephnie de Ruyter (2002-present)

Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader

* John O'Brien (19xx-1970)
* John Pemberton (20xx-present)

Members of Parliament

* John Wright (1996-2002)
* Grant Gillon (1996-2002)
* Gary Knapp (1980-1987)
* Bruce Beetham (1978-1984)
* Neil Morrison (1984-1987)
* Vernon Cracknell (1966-1969)

External links

* [http://www.democrats.org.nz/ Official web site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/1223/KRankin1998conf.html Universal Basic Income description, by Keith Rankin]