By mid-1989 it was becoming apparent that the Values Party could not survive, and a decision needed to be made about its future.  There were only 140 voting members left.

Party Secretary(?) Bernard Merwood wrote to all those members in September and  suggested that the name Values be dropped and that the party’s name be changed to The Green Party of Aotearoa.   And that this new party be formed with new rules and adopt the Green logo as in use in Europe (see below). 

VALUES PARTY

Box 111 Warkworth

19 September 1989

To all voting members – there are about 140 of us.

Linkletter 91 contains fourteen opinions for winding up and and from my analysis the most quoted reasons are;

1. The Values party is seen to have failed.

This is a reflection on the public and the media, not on the party or its policies.

2. The party stands in the way of a revitalised movement. I have yet to learn, of those who wish to do the revitalising, what policies they would change.

3. Our policies have already been taken up by others. I can think of only 2, homosexual law reform and the nuclear ships ban, what of the other 200?

4. The electoral system militates against us.

In July a British public opinion poll revealed that 45% would consider voting Green at the next general election.

5. We do not have the funds to continue.

If the party is living beyond its means then changes must be made. If necessary the Warkworth branch, 21 members, would underwrite approved costs.

I believe it to be vital that we maintain in this country a Green political party, Values is time-tested and has an excellent policy base.

I further believe that we should present an uncompromising political stance, survival is not negotiable.

Our time will come, and soon. The media cannot forever ignore the rising tide of Green debate that is happening overseas and when it does reach here we must be ready for it. A Green political vacuum would become a grab-bag for all manner of single-issue extremists.

 

 

GREEN POLITICS

In the late 1960’s the Club of Rome confirmed what had long been feared, that the Industrial system and its preoccupation with growth (greed) is destroying the ecology at an exponential rate.

If we wish to survive then we must change some of the rules.

In 1972 the book ‘A Blueprint for Survival’ was first to outline the changes that are necessary, and Green Politics was born.

The first Green party in the world was the New Zealand Values Party, its 1972 Manifesto was titled ‘A Blueprint for New Zealand’. Green political parties now exist in over 40 other countries.

Although survival is central to Green political philosophy (without it nothing else matters) there are other reasons for preferring a Green future;

1. Social Harmony. Green politics is dedicated to removing the social barriers of wealth and power. (1.1,1.2)

2. Economic Stability. (p 22) To create growth it is necessary to create wealth and this -is both unsustainable and unfair. Our real wealth ia the productive capacity of the land and Green economics leads to this. (3.1)

3. Resilience. As we develop into self-reliant communities (5.1) we will more easily withstand natural or other disasters.

4. Flexibility. Another advantage of decentralisation is in the variety of ideas that could be practised for social and environmental reform.

5. Unemployment. (p 21) When profits are at stake, labour is the first to go.

6. Law and Order. ( p 21) The inequalities of our system give rise to discontent and antagonism.

7. Race Relations. (p 22) Green politics goes much further than the Treaty of Waitangi, and is not racist.

8. Peace. (p 22) It is pointless talking of peace without removing the causes of war.

9. Suitability. New Zealand is by far the most suitable country in which to create a Green society. We have an obligation to be the first.

10. Alternatives The alternatives to a Green society are truly frightful. Already armed force is protecting wealth and power in many countries, a fight for survival would be far more bitter.

Industrial (Grey) politics has consistently failed to provide the two things that matter most, Survival and Social Justice. Globally every conceivable political combination has been tried and found wanting and in New Zealand our reuent flirtation with monetarism has made matters worse. Our Grey political parties differ only in trivia, all are basically ‘free enterprise’ (the freedom of the fox in the fowlhouse) with the forlorn hope of an adequate welfare system for the victims.