PURPOSE

1 The purpose of the Association of Sovereignz is to restore supremacy to the natural persons of New Zealand over the artificial legal entities masquerading as ‘persons’ under the law as businesses, companies, and corporations otherwise devoid of human morals or ethics. The Association of Sovereignz will change all existing legislation favouring artificial entities; both domestic and foreign. The new TPPCA regime giving our national sovereignty over to foreign corporations must go, along with the present income tax regime forcing our private sector to borrow from foreign banks.

2 There is widespread support for some form of monetary reform, but presently there is no widespread understanding of what has caused, or continues to cause, the huge divide between rich and poor that is destroying society. Although unregulated usury has been a curse to society for thousands of years, and the present banking system seems to be siphoning off all working class profits to the accounts of the rich through interest on debt, The Association of Sovereignz has identified present government taxation policy as the modern tool that underpins destructive usury, the banking monopoly on the creation of all new debt, and the debilitating class distinction between rich and poor in society. Present tax policy is counter-productive not only in distributing wealth, but also in distributing opportunity. The Association of Sovereignz is committed to new tax policy that provides a parity of opportunity between the rich and the poor, and between capital and labour; and also provides right incentives for the betterment of New Zealand as a whole.

3 The Association of Sovereignz also intends to create the necessary banking reforms that will reduce and eliminate all private and public debt in New Zealand. At present, a major portion of private New Zealand profit is now captured by foreign individuals and legal ‘persons’ as interest on debt. The present tax and banking system stratifies New Zealand into financial classes wherein the top 5% of Kiwis capture all private profit remaining after taxes are paid, after foreign players extract their interest on debt, and after living costs are paid- as interest paid to the rich on New Zealand investments and debt. Sovereignz policy is not aimed at punishing our rich. To the contrary, we wish to share opportunity as widely as possible without destroying the real, essential, and undisputed value of capital in improving the quality of our lives.

4 The Association of Sovereignz also seeks to mobilize all creative labour resources in New Zealand now un-employed, under-employed, or forced into marginal employment incapable of providing a reasonable quality of life. Removing the costs of income taxes and tax accounting will help remedy this. Once monetary reform naturally follows tax reform, this remedy will be supplemented by funding a Universal Basic Income sufficient to allow every person access to their basic needs, and, the freedom to choose exactly how they wish to contribute to society.

5 The Association of Sovereignz aims to provide government with sufficient funding to enable proper regulation of industrial pollution without being dependent on industrial/commercial PAYE tax; which presently seems to force government to compromise with industry in regards protection of our natural environment. This includes any and all industrial processes which are poisoning our water supply, our natural wildlife, the air we breathe, our food supply, or our ocean fisheries.

6 The Association of Sovereignz aims to reduce the size and extent of government; particularly in regards the removal of all victimless crimes, including the personal possession and use of mind enhancing, non-addictive drugs such as cannabis. We will treat drug addiction as the disease that it is, requiring treatment, not punishment.

7 The Association of Sovereignz also aims to change the present tax regime so as to eliminate inflation and create the deflationary effect needed by which to introduce monetary reform. This process will also allow the rapid education of New Zealanders regarding the real actual basis of sustainable funding of government, and the benefits of monetary reform.

8 The Association of Sovereignz will adhere closely to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which New Zealand is already a signatory. This will include changes and updates to our own Bill of Rights Act which has been relegated to a toothless document already overturned by a corrupt legal system having no real separation of powers between it and the executive branch of government.

9 The Association of Sovereignz will ensure that a real New Zealand constitution is drawn up and ratified by a vote of the people, which returns power and sovereignty both to individual citizens, and to the nation as a whole.

THE MEANS

10 All of society- in every area- is driven either by positive or negative incentive. In the present context taxation now provides the wrong incentives for wealth creation, economic growth, fair distribution of opportunity, and protection of the natural environment. We are generally punished for wealth creation via income taxes. Conversely, the wealthy are generally rewarded for excessive consumption through tax-free capital gains, GST exemptions on the purchase of residential properties, and countless tax deductions for companies, businesses, and corporations- that private citizens are not allowed under present PAYE tax laws.

11 Towards these ends we will eliminate inflationary income taxes, fuel taxes, and road user fees; all of which create added costs (inflation) in every area of society.

12 GST will be adjusted to allow foodstuffs to be zero rated, and will be charged on the equity portion of all residential home purchases by New Zealand residents.

13 Non-resident home purchasers will be charged GST on the whole purchase price of homes; non-refundable on sale of the home.

14 A 15% Capital Exit Tax will be charged on all moneys leaving New Zealand through the banking system; and all cash returning for exchange will be discounted to that effect. It may be possible that the Capital Exit Tax can simply be built into the foreign exchange rate, marking as much as a 30% difference between the buy/sell price of New Zealand currency and bank notes. Businesses registered in New Zealand would be able to claim the Exit Tax back on all purchases made for capital investment or purchase of stock, just as they now do under the present GST system.

15 We find it is incredibly short sighted for our government to have invested $30 B of taxpayers’ money overseas in the Super Fund and the ACC Fund. That money should be returned to build the New Zealand economy rather than the foreign economies now benefitting. Those funds can be used to top up other direct revenue for government, should a funding shortfall initially exist under the new tax regime; and would enable an immediate start-up for the proposed Universal Basic Income to replace the present archaic and unfair benefit system which seems intent in destroying the family unit by punishing couples that live together.

MONETARY REFORM MUST COME AS A DIRECT RESULT OF TAX REFORM, BUT NOT BEFORE THOSE TAX REFORMS WORK THEIR ECONOMIC MAGIC.

16 We believe that the proposed tax changes- creating as they do a strong deflationary effect- create the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to the voters of New Zealand how simply monetary reform can be implemented in the New Zealand economy.

17 When the economy grows, the money supply also must grow, or money will become more valuable, causing business failures, bankruptcies, and home foreclosures. Our government must then step in to create and issue all the new interest-free money needed to counter deflation and maintain a very stable value of our money, with neither inflation or deflation fluctuating more than one tenth of one percent; and, wholesale interest rates on secured assets held at 1%.

18 The Association of Sovereignz believes that these tax changes- largely replacing the direct revenue now received from income taxes- will create the very deflationary effects required to implement monetary reform in returning the power to create our own interest-free money to our own Reserve Bank rather than allowing the commercial banks to continue their monopoly in creating more interest-bearing debt.

19 The above tax policies relate to the core political, economic, and philosophical foundation of The Association of Sovereignz. In order to change or alter those basic tax policies, a 75% majority of vote of registered members at an AGM is required, lest the Sovereignz movement becomes diluted and/or watered down by populist opinion manipulated by a biased public media.

OUR VISION FOR NEW ZEALAND

20 Eliminating income taxes, fuel taxes, and road user fees will lessen the costs of most things, eventually by as much as 40%. Real costs of living will drop significantly for everyone. Inflation and economic uncertainty will both become things from the past.

21 With no GST on foodstuffs, the poor and working poor will benefit directly with lower costs of living.

22 The average person receiving a wage or a benefit of some kind will immediately find an additional $150- $200 of disposal weekly income following the removal of income taxes.

23 The $40+ B of income tax money left in the private economy will be applied in several ways. Existing debt will be repaid, and/or serviced. New capital expenditure will occur, growing the economic base. And new consumer opportunities will arise as quality of life improves following an increase in the supply of goods and services. This will provide a net deflationary effect needing to be rectified, not only by spending all direct revenue back into the economy in funding existing services, but also in the creation and distribution of perhaps $40 B in new, interest-free money, in the form of a direct weekly benefit to each person.

24 The deflationary effect of economic growth empowers government in the creation of new interest-free money. In rapid fashion, many of our smaller govt charges and fees will fall away as government finds itself over-funded. The only taxes that must remain would be those attempting to curtail certain types of unproductive behaviour.

25 Activities such as the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and addictive drugs will continue to attract tax disincentives for the public good. GST and the Capital Exit Tax will remain so long as they are needed to discourage wasteful consumption or capital flight out of New Zealand. Once society fully responds to the multiple incentives of no tax on profit, the freedom to choose when and where to work, and a predictable and stable value to our money, deflation and the opportunity of government to continually increase the money supply should eventually decrease or eliminate the need for most taxes and most government charges altogether.  Conversely, if the 15% rates are insufficient to create either enough direct funding for government, or enough deflationary effect to implement monetary reform, those tax rates can be increased as required.

26 Complete monetary reform will allow all high interest debt to the bankers to be replaced by new low interest debt issued by government, with government being the beneficiary of that interest. It is presently unconscionable that we allow foreign bankers to suck the lifeblood from our workers through interest on debt, and then abscond out of New Zealand with that unearned wealth. The Association of Sovereignz will end the charters of all foreign owned banks operating within New Zealand; requiring them to divest of all local assets held as securities against debt. Pure monetary reform will allow the New Zealand government to negotiate with the foreign banks in discounting and purchasing all existing New Zealand securities and mortgages from the foreign owned banks, and with no inflationary effect; simply exchanging debt for debt. We expect- given the preponderance of foreign ownership in the New Zealand banking system, that mortgage securities will be discounted by up to 50%. This will have multiple effects in lowering principal amounts, lowering interest rates, lowering the costs and values of existing homes and properties, and creating a huge new deflationary effect requiring the creation and issue of yet more new interest-free money by government.

27 The Association of Sovereignz tax policies will eliminate all poverty in New Zealand, restore personal sovereignty, reduce the costs of living, restore environmental values, and bridge the present divide between rich and poor, and between capital and labour. Finally, the strangle-hold the bankers and the rich have on society through usury, debt, inflation, and interest will be ended; and our government will be freed up from the present mindset that protects capital from tax liability, and punishes labour.

28 The above tax policies relate to the core political, economic, and philosophical foundation of The Association of Sovereignz. In order to change or alter those basic tax policies, a 75% majority of vote of registered members at an AGM is required, lest the Sovereignz movement becomes diluted and/or watered down by populist opinion manipulated by a biased public media.

MEMBERSHIP

29 Membership subscriptions will cost $10 and will be valid for a period of three years from date of purchase. Membership applications must be in the prescribed form giving all information needed to qualify and be confirmed as bona fide members under Electoral Commission rules.

30 Membership will allow full participation in nominating and electing party officials, nominating electoral candidates, nominating party list candidates, putting forward and voting on party remits, and nominating and choosing executive board members.

31 The Executive Committee will be composed of either two co-leaders, or one leader and one deputy leader, one party secretary, and one party treasurer. Those office bearers will be responsible for all day- to-day party obligations and record keeping.

32 In addition, another eight persons will be elected to complement the Executive Committee to a total of twelve members.

33 The Executive Committee will be chosen or renewed at each Annual General Meeting, said annual meeting to be no more than fifteen months after the previous AGM.

34 The Executive Committee will be responsible for convening each successive AGM, selecting prospective electoral candidates from a provided list of nominees, selecting prospective list candidates from a provided list of nominees, vetting and/or substantiating submitted remits prior to each AGM, allocating funding towards party objectives, developing strategies towards fund raising, educating the public, creating public relations opportunities, and developing strategies to succeed at the next election.

35 The Executive Committee will be empowered to engage in any legal, moral or ethical activity meant to forward the goals, objectives, and purpose of The Association of Sovereignz; including actions in the judicial system, the mainstream media, and the social media.

36 Each separate electorate group will be entitled to organize themselves under the same leadership framework as the Executive Committee, and will be empowered to promote The Association of Sovereignz in any way likely to raise public awareness of the Sovereignz principles. Each electorate group is entitled to raise and use local funding in whatever way they see fit, is entitled to nominate their preferred and second preferred electoral candidates for final approval of the Executive Board, and is entitled to nominate up to five list candidates for final approval by the Executive Board.

WIDER POLICY ISSUES

37 Besides the above stated tax reforms, The Association of Sovereignz also embraces a number of special interest areas; each of which must be approved by a majority vote at the first, and every succeeding AGM.

38 The Association of Sovereignz rejects any surrendering of our national sovereignty to foreign interests, whether they be of a political, economic, or social nature. We will immediately withdraw from the current TPPCA agreement.

39 The Association of Sovereignz supports the immediate full legalization for use and possession of cannabis and its various products. As part and parcel, all convictions relating to possession, use of, and supply of cannabis will be quashed, freeing up substantial resources to deal with real criminal activity. The automatic qualifying for the UBI upon leaving prison will greatly assist new prison leavers towards re-integrating into society.

40 Drug addiction will be viewed as a disease requiring treatment, rather than a crime requiring punishment. The resources freed up from cannabis de-criminalization can be diverted to drug addiction treatment.

41 The use of 1080 poison throughout our eco-system will be banned; being replaced with a government bounty on the trapping of possums which will form the basis for a widened industry marketing possum skins and fur.

42 Fluoridation of our water supply has been proven to be detrimental to health, and should be totally banned from use.

43 Mandatory vaccinations should be immediately banned unless and until respective vaccinations can be proven safe and effective.

44 GMO seeds and plant material should be banned from New Zealand; or at least labelled as such in order to inform consumers of the inherent dangers to our eco system and general health.

45 The Pike River mine should be re-opened to retrieve the bodies of those loved ones killed there; and to assess any level of criminal activity associated with the disaster and the financial dealings of the companies involved behind the scenes.

46 An immediate review should be held regarding every child being held in state care in order to assess whatever real danger may be held in returning the child to its birth parent(s). In the case of known drug addiction, resources need to be made available to enable addicted parents to enjoy the presence of their children while undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. Part and parcel of this process involves the availability of the UBI and/or WINZ benefits which will be made more comprehensive.

47 The Association of Sovereignz will support electoral reform in providing a change towards a single transferrable vote in electing candidates to parliament. Each voter will select two different candidates in a preferred order. After the first round of tabulation, all but the top two candidates will be struck off the ballots before counting the remaining ballots to decide the electorate winner. The same voting format will be used in selecting party officers and Executive Committee members at AGMs.

48 A single transferrable vote will also be used to select the favoured party support, with voters choosing three separate parties in a preferred order. Should their first vote fail to reach the required threshold support, their preferred vote transfers to their second choice. Should their second choice also fail to reach the required threshold, the transferrable vote then goes to their third choice. These changes in election procedure will ensure that every persons’ vote will ‘count’ in determining the election outcome, and will re-invigorate elector enthusiasm in regards national elections.

49 We support lowering the threshold required for a party to enter parliament to the level of 3% support, enabling easier and more widespread access to the political process, which is now unfairly monopolized by the two major political parties.

51 We also support changes in the way the public purse supports registered political parties in regards election advertising. At the moment public funding is allocated according to past voting support and public poll ratings, giving the major incumbent parties a huge election advantage over new parties and new ideas. We believe that public funding should be allocated solely upon the numbers of confirmed registered members of those parties; allowing enthusiastic ‘start up’ parties better access to a listening public otherwise poorly informed about alternative choices.

52 Ultimately, the Sovereignz Party supports government by binding referendum of the people, requiring far fewer members of parliment, and along the lines of the successful mode of government in Switzerland.