The plethora of freedom parties contesting the 2023 general election is troubling especially where they are competing for the votes of the freedom movement.
There are a likely limited number of votes to spread amongst the many parties whose policy platform freedom voters might consider.
I have been participating in the Voters United initiative which have fielded six (6) straw polls seeking respondents' preferred party. Voters United continue to act to unite freedom voters.
But what of the competing freedom parties?
I'm not advocating for any one party, rather for common sense and political wisdom amongst the freedom parties - sufficient to join in an unified entity, potentially either the Freedoms NZ umbrella or the Democratic Alliance umbrella, both legitimately available as they are registered with the NZ Electoral Commission. If not these, through any other entity that might be considered legitimate by the NZ Electoral Commission.
There is not much time for a miracle to happen.
Recently I wrote the freedom parties in the following terms. I did not address it to NZ First.
If you support the sentiment, or it seems like common sense to you, perhaps forward it to the party you support (or all of them), to the candidates, branches, boards and party leaders to indicate that you want the freedom parties to unite to give the freedom movement a solid opportunity to be represented in the Parliament.
To cross the five (5) percent threshold will require more than 130,000 votes, and would mean at least six (6) Representatives in the House (in the letter I mention 145,000 votes, but any votes for parties that do not cross the threshold are effectively discounted in the MMP party list allocation process).
Text of the letter..
Monday 14 August 2023
Greg Rzesniowiecki
To: New Zealand Freedom Parties
contesting the 2023 general election
By email:
To: Democracy NZ, Democratic Alliance, Leighton Baker Party, New Conservative Party, New Nation Party, New Zeal Party, NZ Loyal, Outdoors and Freedom Party, Vision
Subject:
Unite for freedom, or divide for futility
Dear
NZ Freedom Parties,
Preamble
My name is Greg Rzesniowiecki and I reside on the Kapiti Coast. Some of you may know of me and my involvement in NZ politics over the past decade, however, this isn't about me, it is about the freedom loving people of New Zealand and those who purport to represent these people's views.
We all disdain what the NZ Government has done to the nation we love under the guise of the COVID-19 Response.
Voters
United – unite the voters if the parties won't unite
Voters United have done a fair bit of researching, thinking and acting in providing the freedom loving proportion of the New Zealand electorate with a platform to draw attention to the need to unify for the purpose of reestablishing freedom and human rights as the underpinnings of the New Zealand society and democracy.
Voters United principles1 are consistent with the views expressed by most freedom lovers and freedom parties and/or parties that support a free and democratic New Zealand.
How
are freedom loving New Zealanders going to attain these principles?
We all appreciate that it is the majority in Parliament that passes legislation to make the laws that govern the population. Judging from the number of freedom parties contesting the 2023 election it is reasonable to say these comprehend the need to gain parliamentary representation in order to have any real effect on legislation made in the House.
The MMP electoral system requires a party or individual to win an electoral seat, or a party to gain five (5) percent of the Party Vote cast at the election to gain representation in the House. The likely combined party vote in the 2023 general election will be in the order of 2.8-2.9 million votes. Five percent is ~145,000 votes.
Based on current polling the following parties either will, or are highly likely to gain representation in the House; National, Labour, ACT, NZ Green, Te Pati Maori and possibly NZ First.
All other smaller parties who are contesting the election with the exception of TOP (The Opportunities Party) are polling no more than one (1) percent in mainstream polls.
NZ's Parliament provides for 120 Representatives and five (5) percent or more, would enable at least six (6) Representatives, where a party crossed the threshold.
With
Parliamentary Representation comes a number of benefits.2
A party with six (6) Representatives would be entitled to six (6) offices in the Parliament precinct and six (6) regional electoral offices, staffed and resourced from the Parliamentary budget.
Additionally, a Parliamentary Party would gain representation on select committees. Allocations for oral questions and speaking rights in the various debates are made on the basis of a party's representation in the House.3
Parliamentary resources would be available, such as access to the Parliamentary library. Parliament Representatives' staff are fully funded. These are able to conduct research and assist administratively, both in respect to work related to Parliament business and constituent or electoral matters. Informal advantages include that the press gallery journalists and news media are always more interested in what elected parties are doing and are more likely to report on policies, bills and press releases when the party has representation in the House.
A freedom focused political coalition or umbrella party with at least six (6) Representatives with proper focus, intent and expertise would be an incredible force for freedom and human rights.
The disparate parties ought put aside their various differences and in some way combine to present a unified, coherent and representative political force for the Freedom Movement to endorse and vote for in two months time.
It ought not matter which freedom politician is placed one through six (1-6) on the umbrella party list, as either all six get elected or none do.
If you do not combine, you will not be elected. In such circumstances, voting for you will be wasted votes.
Where the freedom parties do not unite and combine, you are doomed to ignominy and derision for the missed opportunity.
This 2023 general election, with the COVID-19 Response as background, provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to address the principles outlined by Voters United and your various party platforms.
A credible political force might attract more voters in subsequent general elections as the electorate acknowledges their principled stand and the effective workings of an 'umbrella party'.
Consider the opportunity presented where an 'umbrella party' gains the five (5) percent threshold alongside the resurgent NZ First party, who appear to be picking up a number of the freedom movement policies and voters.
It is evident that NZ First is attracting “freedom votes” as the realisation dawns on freedom voters that there is no credible umbrella party that is likely to attain the five (5) percent threshold as of mid August 2023. Several hundred thousand votes divided between a dozen small freedom parties is not good number crunching.
I know from anecdotal testimony that some freedom voters think that NZ First is the only party espousing freedom policies likely to cross the five (5) percent threshold.
NZ First is now polling consistently at or just above five (5) percent, a trend likely to increase as we near the election.
If it forms in the next couple of weeks, an umbrella party might keep NZ First honest also!
Where this opportunity to gain Freedom Movement representation in the House is missed, through disunity and division of political capital, those who populate the leaderships of the various freedom parties will have done a great disservice to the Freedom Movement and the principles, we the freedom voters, have united around and stand for.
The February 2022 Parliament occupation and freedom village proved that there is incredible support from the people of New Zealand for freedom and human rights.
Only a coherent and coordinated approach to the 2023 general election will enable that larger potential to be realised as a political bloc with power to effect legislative change; that is, to ensure NZ is a free and democratic nation that upholds human rights.
I implore you to use an umbrella entity to maximise freedom party Parliamentary representation. As I comprehend it, the Democratic Alliance is nearly registered, and is available for this purpose. Freedom Parties have at best three (3) weeks to make necessary arrangements for a unified political entity, whatever that might be.
NZ’s democratic future rests in your hands.
Yours
most sincerely,
Greg
Rzesniowiecki
About the author;
Some of you may know of me and my involvement in NZ politics over the past decade; initially opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) which was reformed as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and my general anti-war, anti-imperialism political views.
More recently you might be aware of my absolute scepticism of the COVID-19 phenomena, the Authoritarian Response and opposition to counter measures employed by Government and authorities from early 2020 to present.4 5 6 7
Irrespective of the impact this correspondence has on the freedom parties, I will continue my efforts opposing the COVID-19 Response and any similar set of policies being implemented in a WHO Pandemic treaty or amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR).
1 Voters United principles: https://votersunited.nz/principles/
2 Parliament Website, Speaker’s Directions 2020: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-rules/directions-determinations/speaker-s-directions-2020/ The Speaker makes Directions, under section 23 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, to provide services and support funding for members of Parliament and parliamentary parties.
3 Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, Chapter 8 Parties and Government: https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-8-parties-and-government/
4 Petition of Greg Rzesniowiecki: Undertake a public inquiry into the national COVID-19 response https://petitions.parliament.nz/f8ae8f54-0771-452e-bde5-9a2db6b0dcb9 my evidence, reasons and proposed terms of reference are available at this link: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/submissions-and-advice/document/53SCPET_EVI_127123_PET3720/greg-rzesniowiecki and the pdf document: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/53SCPET_EVI_127123_PET3720/6e60557c834c954265a56b2f9c8ba2884c06bfba
5 Amend Section 5 and add a new section 5A to the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990, submissions and advice provided to the Committee: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/submissions-and-advice/all?custom=PET_117877
6 Petition of Greg Rzesniowiecki: Hold a referendum before signing the proposed WHO pandemic treaty: https://petitions.parliament.nz/2bc56985-22b1-48bf-a44c-667122be4b6e and Petition of Greg Rzesniowiecki: Hold a referendum before amending International Health Regulations: https://petitions.parliament.nz/a7fd3096-51ad-484f-bd2e-c2938c0edcdc
7 My interview with RCR host Paul Brennan on his breakfast show broadcast Thursday 3 August 2023: https://realitycheck.radio/greg-rzesniowiecki-on-his-petitions-submissions-oias-letters-protesting-for-our-human-rights-freedoms-during-the-covid-response/
Ends.
Thus far the response from the freedom parties is underwhelming or non existent.
It might be that it is all too late and no miracle is available.
I sincerely hope wisdom might prevail and the power of the freedom movement is maximised through the fullest possible Parliamentary Representation.
Politics is about power, whereas futility is the lot of the powerless.
In peace, freedom and full human rights.
