Conservative Party of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Conservative Party of New Zealand is a political party
founded in New Zealand
in August 2011. It advocates social conservatism
, the repeal of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
and the child discipline law, and the use of binding referenda. The party is led by Colin Craig
, who polled third in the Auckland mayoral election, 2010.
. Its party logo was registered at the same time.
Shortly after its foundation the party was noted for possible violations of electoral laws for failing to have an authorisation statement on electoral advertising
on its website and on the billboard outside of its office.
electorate.
On 14 October The Kiwi Party announced that it would not be standing any candidates in the election, and that its leader Larry Baldock
and other members would be standing for the Conservatives. On 18 October the party announced a similar alliance with the New Citizen Party
. On 1 November 2011 the party released its list, announcing 52 candidates. Craig heads the list, with Baldock listed third and former New Citizen Botany
candidate Paul Young at 11.
During the campaign, the party positioned itself as able to work with either National or Labour. It highlighted its socially conservative policies of a higher drinking age, parental notification for abortions, and repeal of the anti-smacking law. It also announced its opposition to asset sales.
The party gained 2.76% of the party vote in the election, but failed to win any electorates. Its vote share was the fifth highest of all parties, and higher than that of United Future, ACT New Zealand, the Māori Party
and the Mana Party
, but as it was below the 5% threshold, the party did not gain representation. Craig came second in Rodney, gaining 7,569 votes.
The party spent NZ$1.5 million on its campaign, with NZ$1 million coming from Craig. It intends to contest the next election.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
founded in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in August 2011. It advocates social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
, the repeal of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme is a national all-sectors all-greenhouse gases all-free allocation uncapped emissions trading scheme...
and the child discipline law, and the use of binding referenda. The party is led by Colin Craig
Colin Craig
Colin Craig is a New Zealand businessman and the founding leader of the Conservative Party of New Zealand. Craig is currently a millionaire who owns companies which manage high-rise buildings. His current company manages about $1.3 billion of assets.-Personal life:Craig was born in Auckland and...
, who polled third in the Auckland mayoral election, 2010.
Formation
The party was announced by Craig on 3 August 2011. It gained the 500 members required for registration within a month of its founding, and was formally registered on 6 October 2011, allowing it to contest the party vote in the 2011 electionNew Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
. Its party logo was registered at the same time.
Shortly after its foundation the party was noted for possible violations of electoral laws for failing to have an authorisation statement on electoral advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
on its website and on the billboard outside of its office.
2011 election
In September 2011 Craig announced he would stand in the RodneyRodney (New Zealand electorate)
rightRodney is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Rodney is Mark Mitchell of the National Party...
electorate.
On 14 October The Kiwi Party announced that it would not be standing any candidates in the election, and that its leader Larry Baldock
Larry Baldock
Larry Baldock is a New Zealand politician. He was a member of Parliament for the United Future New Zealand party from 2002 to 2005...
and other members would be standing for the Conservatives. On 18 October the party announced a similar alliance with the New Citizen Party
New Citizen Party
The New Citizen Party is a political party in New Zealand. It aims to represent Chinese New Zealanders and has a focus on economic and law-and-order issues...
. On 1 November 2011 the party released its list, announcing 52 candidates. Craig heads the list, with Baldock listed third and former New Citizen Botany
Botany (New Zealand electorate)
Botany is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was contested for the first time at the 2008 general election, and won by Pansy Wong for the National Party...
candidate Paul Young at 11.
During the campaign, the party positioned itself as able to work with either National or Labour. It highlighted its socially conservative policies of a higher drinking age, parental notification for abortions, and repeal of the anti-smacking law. It also announced its opposition to asset sales.
The party gained 2.76% of the party vote in the election, but failed to win any electorates. Its vote share was the fifth highest of all parties, and higher than that of United Future, ACT New Zealand, the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
and the Mana Party
Mana Party (New Zealand)
The Mana Party is a New Zealand political party led by Hone Harawira. It was formed in April 2011, and plans to contest the 2011 general election. Standing under the Mana Party banner, Mana won an early victory when Mr Harawira won the by-election in Te Tai Tokerau held on 25 June 2011...
, but as it was below the 5% threshold, the party did not gain representation. Craig came second in Rodney, gaining 7,569 votes.
The party spent NZ$1.5 million on its campaign, with NZ$1 million coming from Craig. It intends to contest the next election.