Family Party
Encyclopedia
The Family Party was a political party
in New Zealand
. It described itself as a Christian party
.
(the political party backed by the Destiny Church
) and by Paul Adams
, a former United Future MP and pastor
within the Pentecostal City Impact Church
, run by New Zealand televangelist Peter Mortlock. It was initially intended that they would join forces with Gordon Copeland
, another former United Future MP then sitting as an independent, but talks fell through, and Copeland and another former United Future List MP, Larry Baldock
established The Kiwi Party There was speculation that Taito Phillip Field
might also be involved, but he has formed another political party to target evangelical Christian Pacific Island immigrants in South Auckland
, known as the New Zealand Pacific Party
. The Family Party was announced in October 2007, and received official registration on 17 December.
The party described its support base as "pro-family, traditional Christian" voters, and says that it will target Maori and Pacific Islander voters in South Auckland.
Richard Lewis
, former leader of Destiny New Zealand, was the Family Party's leader, while Adams was deputy leader. The party president was Elias Kanaris
. According to the New Zealand Electoral Commission website, it polled a total of 8176 votes altogether, to poll a final total party vote of only 0.35%. This placed them behind the "joke" Bill and Ben Party
, The Kiwi Party and
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
, and on a par with the New Zealand Pacific Party
.
by-election, caused after former Prime Minister Helen Clark
took up her new post as Director of the United Nations Development Program.
On 23 February 2010 the party applied to the Electoral Commission to cancel its registration. On 29 April 2010 the party was officially deregistered.
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...
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...
. It described itself as a Christian party
Christianity and politics
The relationship between Christianity and politics is a historically complex subject and a frequent source of disagreement throughout Church history, and in modern politics between the Christian right and Christian left.-Foundations:...
.
History
The Family Party was established by members of the disbanding Destiny New ZealandDestiny New Zealand
Destiny New Zealand was a Christian political party in New Zealand centred on the charismatic/pentecostal Destiny Church. The party described itself as "centre-right". It placed a strong focus on socially conservative values and argued that the breakdown of the traditional family was a primary...
(the political party backed by the Destiny Church
Destiny Church, New Zealand
Destiny Church is a Pentecostal fundamentalist Christian movement, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. The church advocates strict adherence to biblical morality, and is notable for its position against homosexuality, its patriarchal views and for its calls for a return to biblical conservative...
) and by Paul Adams
Paul Adams (New Zealand)
Paul Adams is a politician and former rally driving champion from New Zealand.-Early years:Adams was originally a carpenter and joiner, but later established a business manufacturing outdoor playground equipment. Later, he became a professional rally driver, and won three prestigious New Zealand...
, a former United Future MP and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
within the Pentecostal City Impact Church
City Impact Church
City Impact Church can refer to:* City Impact Church New Zealand in Auckland, Queenstown, Invercargill, Balclutha* City Impact Church Canada in Fredericton...
, run by New Zealand televangelist Peter Mortlock. It was initially intended that they would join forces with Gordon Copeland
Gordon Copeland
Gordon Copeland is a New Zealand politician who was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2008. He was a list MP for the United Future New Zealand party from 2002 until he resigned from the party in 2007. He is now Party President of The Kiwi Party, which he co-founded with another former United...
, another former United Future MP then sitting as an independent, but talks fell through, and Copeland and another former United Future List MP, 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...
established The Kiwi Party There was speculation that Taito Phillip Field
Taito Phillip Field
Taito Phillip Hans Field is a Samoan New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament for south Auckland electorates from 1993 to 2008. Field was a minister outside Cabinet in a Labour-led government from 2003 to 2005. Following charges of bribery and perverting the course of justice, he was...
might also be involved, but he has formed another political party to target evangelical Christian Pacific Island immigrants in South Auckland
South Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
, known as the New Zealand Pacific Party
New Zealand Pacific Party
The New Zealand Pacific Party was a Christian political party that existed in New Zealand from 2008 to 2010. The party was founded as a vehicle for former Labour MP Taito Phillip Field, who was subsequently convicted for bribery and corruption...
. The Family Party was announced in October 2007, and received official registration on 17 December.
The party described its support base as "pro-family, traditional Christian" voters, and says that it will target Maori and Pacific Islander voters in South Auckland.
Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis (politician)
Richard Lewis is the leader of The Family Party, a political party in New Zealand, and was formerly leader of the now de registered Destiny New Zealand, a conservative right-wing Christian party associated with Destiny Church....
, former leader of Destiny New Zealand, was the Family Party's leader, while Adams was deputy leader. The party president was Elias Kanaris
2008 election results
The Family Party did not gain electoral representation as a result of their contests in the 2008 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
. According to the New Zealand Electoral Commission website, it polled a total of 8176 votes altogether, to poll a final total party vote of only 0.35%. This placed them behind the "joke" Bill and Ben Party
Bill and Ben Party
The Bill and Ben Party was a New Zealand joke political party formed in 2008 and voluntarily deregistered in 2010. The party's leaders were Jamie Linehan and Ben Boyce of the TV3 satirical sports show Pulp Sport...
, The Kiwi Party and
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is a political party in New Zealand. It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances...
, and on a par with the New Zealand Pacific Party
New Zealand Pacific Party
The New Zealand Pacific Party was a Christian political party that existed in New Zealand from 2008 to 2010. The party was founded as a vehicle for former Labour MP Taito Phillip Field, who was subsequently convicted for bribery and corruption...
.
2010 demise
After the general election, nothing further was heard from the Family Party. It did not stand a candidate in the Mount AlbertMount Albert
-Settlements:* Mount Albert, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand* Mount Albert , based on Mount Albert* Mont Albert, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia-Mountains:...
by-election, caused after former Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
took up her new post as Director of the United Nations Development Program.
On 23 February 2010 the party applied to the Electoral Commission to cancel its registration. On 29 April 2010 the party was officially deregistered.