UnitedFuture sits firmly in the camp of international liberal democratic parties.

It means we have a commitment to promote strong families and vibrant communities, and to a fair and open society, free from poverty, ignorance and prejudice, and based on innovation, self-reliance, justice and integrity in business and personal dealings is.

Our policies and general political approach are shaped by:

• a commitment to promoting freedom and choice
• a strong sense of compassion
• a clear focus on community based solutions
• a celebration of our country’s outdoor heritage and lifestyle

as the key values that make New Zealand the country we would want it to be.

We favour open market-led economic policies and free trade, but we acknowledge the primary role of the State in areas like health, education and welfare, supported by a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector.

Peter Dunne in a recent address to Petone Rotary:

UnitedFuture’s Voice

Now you may agree with some of the views I am expressing today – and judging from some of the heads nodding at various points in the last few minutes, I suspect that many of you do – or you may disagree.

Either way, you are hearing my views tonight because the self-appointed experts, pundits and media luminaries who have constantly predicted both my demise and that of UnitedFuture have been, in a word, wrong!

Even when we got numbers elected to Parliament in 2002 and 2005 it was seen as either an unintended fluke, or a perversion of the electoral system.

The barely disguised glee in some quarters that the Electoral Commission’s recent initial recommendations on the future of MMP might finally deliver our death blow has given our critics their latest run at this tired old theme.

But what they continue to fail to appreciate is that you cannot kill an idea.

That is why when looking at electoral reform it must be a fundamental principle that the capacity to promote and represent an idea, or shade of political opinion, is enhanced and strengthened, not diminished by whatever changes are made.

Democracy is the contest of ideas – and democratic elections should be about promoting that contest, not limiting it.

I believe that through UnitedFuture, I have brought and continue to bring strong ideas to the table of national politics.

I challenge dumb ideas, whether they come from the left or the right, and I do it on behalf of middle New Zealand.

I firmly believe that UnitedFuture and I are very close to where the vast majority of New Zealanders in their values and in their way of thinking.

There are clearly many who do not vote for us, but their politics are not far from ours, and I think they value our contribution on an issue by issue basis.

And for those reasons I am very comfortable that we pay our way as a political party.

UnitedFuture and I make a real and valuable contribution to New Zealand politics on a scale that far outstrips our size and numbers.

Liberal Democrats

UnitedFuture sits firmly in the camp of international liberal democratic parties.

So what does that actually mean in laymen’s terms?

It means we have a commitment to promote strong families and vibrant communities, and to a fair and open society, free from poverty, ignorance and prejudice, and based on innovation, self-reliance, justice and integrity in business and personal dealings is.

This is, for example, very similar to Britain’s Liberal Democrats pledge to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, which seeks to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which  no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance and conformity.

Our policies and general political approach are shaped by:

• a commitment to promoting freedom and choice
• a strong sense of compassion
• a clear focus on community based solutions
• a celebration of our country’s outdoor heritage and lifestyle

as the key values that make New Zealand the country we would want it to be.

We favour open market-led economic policies and free trade, but we acknowledge the primary role of the State in areas like health, education and welfare, supported by a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector.

These values clearly set us aside from the ideological rigidity of the traditional left and right wings of politics, and are strongly reflective of the moderate, centrist approach of many New Zealanders to political discourse.

But, like the Liberal Democrats, our challenge is to mobilise those who agree with our general approach to actually vote for us.

And as I say, you cannot kill an idea.