The party launched its election campaign in Dunedin on Saturday. Leader Stephnie de Ruyter said in an interview that the world economies were caught up in the credit crisis.
"Ironically, at a time when the whole world is talking about the debt crisis, in New Zealand we have been concentrating on the Rugby World Cup.
"We have been fed side issues, distractions and without the opportunity to really face what this means for New Zealand."
It was frustrating the spin from the Government had been very effective and people were not aware of the dangers the economy faced, she said.
The focus on the global credit crisis gave the party the opportunity it needed in the election campaign to talk about its alternative monetary policy to those of the other political parties.
Instead of borrowing from offshore, and digging the country into a hole of debt, the Democrats would make the money available through the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Ms de Ruyter said.
"It doesn't make sense to borrow at interest from overseas. The financial system needs to be owned by us and used for the benefit of all New Zealanders."
An independent monetary authority would be established to create credit trading, and banks, including overseas-owned banks, would use the authority to fund their lending, she said.
From 1978 to 1984, the Democrats for Social Credit enjoyed solid support from the electorate, but the party was hampered by the first-past-the-post voting system, getting only three MPs into Parliament at various stages. If MMP had been operating, the party would, at one election, have been entitled to over 20% of the MPs.
Southern campaign manager Bob Warren, who joined the party in 1962, said the primary message would be the changes needed for monetary policy because, without those changes, other policies such as full employment, building the country's asset base, paying for Christchurch, cleaning up the environment and social welfare could not be afforded.
The party was focusing its electorate campaign on the electorates south of the Waitaki, where it felt it had the most support.
The nationwide campaign would be on the list vote, but most of the effort would be spent in the south, he said.
Ms de Ruyter moved to Invercargill 18 months ago and is standing in the Invercargill electorate held by National MP Eric Roy.
The party was aiming for 5% of the vote nationally but a much higher percentage in Otago and Southland because of the long-standing support in the region, Mr Warren said.
"It is exciting times. I work every day for Social Credit and have done so for the past 50 years. Every day in my working life I always adhered to those principles - looking for a better way of life for everyone."
Ms de Ruyter said her efforts would be spread across the country but with a strong emphasis on Invercargill.
