Slater organises a press conference with a crowd on the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, for something different. The wind is blowing, but it’s only a tad overcast. Luckily the wind dies down as the press is set up and a small crowd has gathered. model-slater begins to speak.

Kia Ora.

It’s amazing to be here, standing in front of you all, to hopefully be able to represent you in parliament as a proud member of Alliance and the Country Party. I’m standing here as a candidate for the electorate of Te Puku O Te Whenua.

Alliance has fought hard for you this term, and I’m proud to be part of this change. I’ll have plenty to talk about our achievements another time, and today I’d like to go over some key policies and our plan for the future.

One of our key policies is to take on the renationalisation of government services, and it’s a pretty straightforward policy, which I think should be considered common sense. Government services shouldn't be run as private businesses. Alliance will achieve this through the repeal of the State Owned Enterprises Act. This act, introduced under the Rogernomics Era, dramatically changed the priorities of a significant amount of government services. You and I, we both agree that the priority of governments should be to achieve the best results for Aotearoa and for the people, who shall always be put first in decision making. With the State Owned Enterprises Act, this goal was more or less changed from a previous “best results”, a fair, equal goal with the priorities of the people at the front of the mind, to a goal which prioritised cutting costs, cutting corners, at the detriment of the people and the public interest. No more will we tolerate the stripping of government trading departments of their social objectives and transformation of them into profit-making standalone businesses. It’s shameful. The capitalist thirst after profits and an obsession to “balance the budget” has destroyed our society. A vote for Alliance is a vote to work in overturning this, and making the priority the people, the public, and not profit.

This is a stepping stone in the path to overturning Rogernomics, a series of policies which hurt thousands of New Zealand workers, particularly in rural areas, where unemployment in places such as Tuatapere hit 80%. Now while Tuatapere, obviously is in the south, this was the case for many towns up north here. Rogernomics was explained to the public by the Cabinet, as something that had to happen for the economy, and there was a horrific short term result but it was promised that things would get better, but per capita earnings were almost the same in 1994 as they were in 1984, with a significant drop between. The implementation of Rogernomics (and its successor Ruthanasia) lasted ten years of economic paralysis whereas the rest of the globe economy expanded rapidly. Unlike previous recessions, which were a result of the global economy suffering, the Rogernomics recession was brought upon solely because of the policy decisions made. The tax cuts for the wealthy under Rogernomics were paid for by raising taxes on the bottom four-fifths of the population and cutting social security payments and other government spending, so the rich's earnings continued to climb at the expense of the rest of the population's incomes and subsequently, inequality climbed. Many of these effects are still being felt today. Alliance has got to work in reversing and working together ending inequality, with our GMI, recently implemented in the budget, and we have much more to do. The Fourth Labour Government was dramatic, and radical in its changes, and was evidently significant in the path of our nation, and it was unfortunately for the worst. A future Alliance government will be just as radical.

Crowd murmurs confusedly, slightly nervous at what model-slater appears to be saying.model-slater laughs

No no! Not in that way. I believe that a stronger Alliance Government will be a radical one, and a radical one for positive, progressive change. As previously mentioned, we’ve seen the implementation of a GMI of $325 per week to replace all other benefits, with an extra $100 for solo parents and people unable to work. It hugely simplifies the approach to welfare, reducing departmental costs on the government’s behalf, and removes the layers of bureaucracy that have often discriminated against those welfare is supposed to be providing for. No more fiddly criteria, but a guarantee that you will be able to survive above the poverty line. GMI is a step for reducing inequality, and an important one, but by no means is it the end.

The Goods and Services Tax has, since its introduction, disproportionately hurt working families. While it isn’t much to those at the top end, the extra percentage builds up and up, on all products. The GST can directly contribute to the inability for kiwis to be able to provide food for their family. This is why an Alliance Government will have the GST abolished for food and essential services. We shouldn’t prop up a tax that stops kiwis from nourishment and essential support, as well as lowering it.

Murmurs begin in the crowd, some positive, some concern and someone half heartedly mentions ‘How will you be able to afford this!’

However, it is true that this will have an impact on the revenue that our government brings in, and that's why Alliance has a plan.

Alliance has a plan to tax the wealthy, the people who have long benefitted from the current system. The rich have long tried to evade, to dodge, and to get out of their responsibility to contribute, well it’s time that the rich contributed, and Alliance will return these benefits to the public. Under an Alliance Government, we will see a drastically reduced bottom tax bracket, and the implementation of a 50% income tax rate on the highest bracket. We will see the implementation of tax on unproductive land, alongside a progress capital gains sales tax, and implements which will come down on wealthy investors, end the rich storing of capital in homes to avoid taxes, and importantly encourage more first home buyers, allowing the youth to access housing.

This campaign is a historical one. Alliance started as a small movement, as an idea to take the power back for the people in New Zealand, and we are in a position now to seize an historic second term, with an increased representation. This is thanks to you. This election you have the chance to vote for the continued progress, and further radicalisation of Aotearoa to put the power back into the people's hands.

Remember. He waka eke noa. We're all in this together, and if you elect myself and Alliance this election, we will not let you down.