Hi Friend,

Along with farmers and those engaged in extracting natural resources, New Zealand First is leading the charge to protect New Zealanders, and their businesses, from the insidious corporate activism of “debanking”.

We've seen how the big corporate banks have completely unjustly withdrawn essential banking services for non-commercial reasons. Moral crusaders in suits should not dictate whether or not Kiwis have access to banking services based on whether they abide by the woke politics of the bank's HR and marketing departments.

One of the major culprits behind this nonsense is the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria – or, as I like to call it, corporate virtue signalling. ESG isn’t about good business; it’s about ticking boxes for the global elites who think they know better than hardworking Kiwis.

These UN-orientated climate apostles sit comfortably in their ivory towers, believing they have the moral high ground. They fancy themselves as the saviours of the world, making decisions about who deserves access to financial services based on their own ideological beliefs about climate change, race politics, and gender wars. These institutions, far removed from the reality of everyday New Zealanders, have embraced a self-righteous agenda, imposing their narrow vision of what’s "ethical" on everyone else.

Banks and financial institutions are being pressured to adopt policies that are based on trendy, politically correct ideas rather than real-world needs. This has seen essential industries like farming and energy penalised for the crime of doing business in a way that’s been working for New Zealand for generations. These ESG policies are detached from reality and are wreaking havoc on the very sectors that keep our economy ticking over.

In their attempt to change the world from the top down, the banking executives forget one key thing: it’s the hardworking Kiwi, the farmer, the small business owner, and the everyday family who bear the brunt of their lofty ideals. These so-called "guardians of morality" seem to have lost touch with the very people who rely on the basic right of financial inclusion.

That is why New Zealand First introduced the Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment (Duty to Provide Financial Services) Amendment Bill aka the Debanking Bill.

The right to access banking services is not a privilege; it’s a basic right. New Zealanders deserve to have our financial freedoms protected. With access to banking taken away, livelihoods are destroyed, communities are isolated, and very quickly there is a descent into witch hunts for more morally inferior beings who must be debanked. The stakes are high and that is why our bill is so vital.

If our Debanking Bill passes, financial institutions will no longer be allowed to cut off essential banking services to Kiwis simply because of political, moral, or cultural differences. 

It is a critical piece of legislation that will ensure banks provide services fairly and without discrimination. It will make sure that access to banking services is determined by commercial grounds, not arbitrary decisions made behind closed doors.

But we need your help.

The bill is currently being considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee and, Friend, we are calling on you to make a submission in support of our bill before 4 July 2025. You only have one week left to have your say and get behind this vital piece of legislation.

Whether you are concerned about the impact on our farmers, small businesses, or your own community, now is the time to speak out and make your voice heard. Your submission can help ensure that the Debanking Bill gets the attention it deserves, and that we stand up for fairness in the financial system.