New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit
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|
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President | John Pemberton |
Party Leader | Stephnie de Ruyter |
Deputy Party Leader | Chris Leitch |
Founded | 1985 |
Preceded by | Social Credit Party |
Headquarters | P.O. Box 5164 Waikiwi Invercargill |
Ideology |
Social Credit, Economic democracy, Left-wing nationalism |
Political position | Left-wing |
Colours | Green |
Slogan | "Here For Good" |
House of Representatives |
0 / 121
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Local government in New Zealand |
0 / 1,895
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Website | |
www.democrats.org.nz | |
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit (shortened to Democrats for Social Credit) is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. Its policies are based on the ideas of social credit. The party has been known as the Social Credit Political League, Social Credit Party, and New Zealand Democratic Party and was part of the Alliance for a time.
The party does not hold any seats in the Parliament of New Zealand. It held one seat from 1966 to 1969. The party won a seat in a 1978 byelection, and held two seats from 1980 to 1987. Democratic Party members also held seats when the party was part of the Alliance.
The party has been known as the Social Credit Party, and Social Credit Political League and was for many years the largest minor party in New Zealand politics, and gained 21% of the total votes in 1981. 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.
Democrats for Social Credit 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 Democrats for Social Credit are based on the ideas of Social Credit. The party emphasises "economic democracy", claiming that control of New Zealand's money supply must be reclaimed from the banks.
Democrats for Social Credit 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). It also supports the introduction of a Universal basic income (see external link below).