If you’re unsure who to vote for this election, you may like to download the following list, draw up columns for the parties you are considering, and see which one gets the most ticks.
Or if you want to get really sophisticated, you can put weightings on each section or items within each section.
This list is based on Jim Wallis’s book “7 Ways to Change the World”with a couple of extra sections added.
Vote – and Vote Well!
| 1. Inclusion and Opportunity |
| – marginalised and poor |
| – shelter |
| – healthcare |
| – education |
| – just welfare |
| – social and personal responsibility |
| – employment and well managed economy |
| 2. Stewardship and Renewal |
| – care of creation |
| – parks |
| – conservation |
| – manage environmental impact |
| – better public transport options |
| – alternative energy sources |
| 3. Equality and Diversity |
| – race, gender, class |
| – respect |
| – welcome the stranger |
| – refugees and asylum seekers |
| – religious pluralism |
| – caution over legislating religious beliefs |
| 4. Life and Dignity |
| – promote culture of life |
| – caution with new birth technologies |
| – care for the unborn and support |
| for the mother |
| – dangers of euthanasia |
| – care for the aged |
| 5. Family and Community |
| – take best of left and right wing |
| – marriage is important |
| – family is much more than the nuclear unit |
| – unconditional acceptance of all |
| – 2 parents working can cause problems |
| – should have choice, but family needs to be a priority |
| 6. Law and Order (internal security) |
| – justice with compassion |
| – restitution for the victim |
| – restitution by the offender |
| – restoration and rehabilitation |
| 7. Nonviolent Realism (external security) |
| – policy on war |
| – conflict resolution |
| – regional/global stability |
| 8. Integrity and Accountability |
| – democracy and close votes |
| – polls vs moral foundation |
| – electoral spending |
| – conduct of MPs, respect, honour |
| – private / public morality |
| – promoting virtue |
| – being more vs having more |
| 9. Treaty and Biculturalism |
| – Place of the Treaty in politics today |
| – Maori seats in Parliament |
| – Settling of Treaty claims |
Author: Glyn Carpenter
Glyn Carpenter was National Director of New Zealand Christian Network from March 2003 to 2017. He attends Northcote Baptist Church in Auckland, is married to Christine (married in 1981), and they have three sons – two working as doctors and one in computer science.
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