Democrats for Social Credit Party Leader, Stephnie de Ruyter, has called for all parties to halt further spending on the Northcote by-election.

“We’re pledging to put the bulk of what our Party was going to spend into a fund to donate to the Auckland City Mission and the Salvation Army food banks.

“We won’t spend that money on the campaign, we’ll put it into the fund.

“Given the dire need of so many people for food parcels from those two organisations, we will uphold our social credit principles by not spending further money on the by-election campaign.

“Although other parties have already committed part of the $53,000 they are entitled to spend, we are challenging them to stop any further spending immediately and instead put the money instead into a joint fund for those in need.

“National, Labour, ACT, and the Greens should not waste $100,000, or more, on campaigning when that money could make a huge difference for people who are struggling to feed their families.

“Candidates and their parties should put their money where their mouths are – not on thousands of flyers which will end up in the rubbish stream, not on radio advertising that most people won’t listen to, not on more signs that will pollute the visual landscape and end up at the rubbish tip, and not on a parade of highly paid Ministers and MPs and their hangers-on from Wellington, whose flights and ministerial transport will be at the taxpayer’s expense.

“To show that their concern for people is genuine and not just hot air, they must stop any more campaign spending and put the money into a joint fund for the Salvation Army and City Mission food banks.

“Dr Jonathan Coleman should also front up with a contribution. After all, he stood just 6 months ago pledging to represent Northcote voters for the next 3 years, but resigned, triggering this by-election which is costing taxpayers $1 million.

“Dr Coleman didn’t resign because he was ill, or had a family crisis, but because his bid to get into the leadership of the National Party failed. It’s clear that he didn’t want to do the hard yards in opposition, and he got a more lucrative offer in the private sector.”

Democrats for Social Credit Party supporters will collect money and food donations in shopping centres throughout the electorate.

A Give-A-Little page is being established so that people outside the electorate can contribute to the fund.

ENDS

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