Kyle Chapman
Encyclopedia
Kyle Chapman is a former national director of the New Zealand National Front
(NZNF). He was also a candidate for Mayor of Christchurch
, first for the National Front, and then for the National Democrats Party
.
He was once convicted of fire-bombing a marae
.
, New Zealand
. He has said that he wanted to join the National Front from the age of 14, and that he was a skinhead during the 1980s and early 1990s. As a teenager he was a member of several skinhead gangs. He was the founding member of the New Zealand Hammerskins
. Over his time as a Skinhead he made major contributions to the skinhead movement in New Zealand. Several organizations were formed with his help to build a national unity in the fractured and conflict filled subculture. As part of a clean slate in 1995, he confessed to a series of politically-motivated arson attacks between 1987 and 1992, primarily education buildings and homes of known sex offenders. He was reported as saying he "wanted to make amends for the actions he had done as an out of control youth"
He is a qualified social worker, and worked in Christchurch from 1993 to 1997, dealing with youths involved in street subculture
s. He also served as the youth worker representative on the Safer Community Council in Christchurch from 1996 to 1997.
In May 2009 Chapman married Claire Clifford, a Mormon
, but they separated in October of the same year, reportedly due to his failure to fulfill his promise of abandoning his involvement in white supremacy groups. Clifford has a child by Chapman.
, New Zealand, placing fifth out of 10 with 1.9 percent of the vote (1665 votes). In 2005, he resigned his high-profile role as the leader of the National Front. He said in interviews that his children were being shunned at school due to his activities. He also cited the harassment of left wing anti-NZNF groups as a factor in his departure. He has since been the tenth-ranked list candidate for the Direct Democracy Party
.
He unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch mayoralty again in 2007, running this time under the National Democrats ticket.
" Right Wing Resistance
(RWR) group, which he describes as his National Alliance's "street arm". Chapman reportedly knighted the members with a sword after they recited a pledge. The group's insignia is a skull over a Wolfsangel
, with the notation, "NA 14
". A posting on the Nationalist Alliance called the RWR the "largest Right-wing organisation Christchurch has ever seen". RWR members have engaged in street patrols in New Brighton with the stated purpose of preventing vandalism by "Polynesian youths". The mayor of Christchurch denounced their vigilante
behavior. Its street patrols have included from 5 to 15 members, who shave their heads
. In October 2009, Chapman organized a rally at the Wellington cenotaph
.
New Zealand National Front
The New Zealand National Front is a small white nationalist political party in New Zealand.-First formation:Mirroring developments in the UK, a group called the National Front evolved out of the New Zealand branch of the League of Empire Loyalists in 1967...
(NZNF). He was also a candidate for Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
, first for the National Front, and then for the National Democrats Party
National Democrats Party
The National Democrats Party was a small right-wing political party in New Zealand, formed in 1999 by Anton Foljambe. It has met with limited success....
.
He was once convicted of fire-bombing a marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
.
Personal life
Chapman was born in TaumarunuiTaumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, 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...
. He has said that he wanted to join the National Front from the age of 14, and that he was a skinhead during the 1980s and early 1990s. As a teenager he was a member of several skinhead gangs. He was the founding member of the New Zealand Hammerskins
Hammerskins
The Hammerskins, are a white supremacist group formed in 1988 in Dallas, Texas.The Hammerskins' primary focus is the production and promotion of white power rock music, and many white power bands were affiliated with the group. The Hammerskins were affiliated with the record label 9% Productions...
. Over his time as a Skinhead he made major contributions to the skinhead movement in New Zealand. Several organizations were formed with his help to build a national unity in the fractured and conflict filled subculture. As part of a clean slate in 1995, he confessed to a series of politically-motivated arson attacks between 1987 and 1992, primarily education buildings and homes of known sex offenders. He was reported as saying he "wanted to make amends for the actions he had done as an out of control youth"
He is a qualified social worker, and worked in Christchurch from 1993 to 1997, dealing with youths involved in street subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
s. He also served as the youth worker representative on the Safer Community Council in Christchurch from 1996 to 1997.
In May 2009 Chapman married Claire Clifford, a Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
, but they separated in October of the same year, reportedly due to his failure to fulfill his promise of abandoning his involvement in white supremacy groups. Clifford has a child by Chapman.
Christchurch mayoralty
In 2004, he unsuccessfully contested the mayoralty of ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, placing fifth out of 10 with 1.9 percent of the vote (1665 votes). In 2005, he resigned his high-profile role as the leader of the National Front. He said in interviews that his children were being shunned at school due to his activities. He also cited the harassment of left wing anti-NZNF groups as a factor in his departure. He has since been the tenth-ranked list candidate for the Direct Democracy Party
Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand
The Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand was a political party in New Zealand that promoted greater participation by the people in the decision-making of government. The party's leader was Kelvyn Alp....
.
He unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch mayoralty again in 2007, running this time under the National Democrats ticket.
Survive Club
Chapman is the founder and leader of the Survive Club, a survivalist group that denies being a militia and denies any racist ties despite the histories of some of its members.Right Wing Resistance
As of 2009, Chapman is the leader of the "white prideWhite pride
White pride is a slogan indicating pride in being white. The slogan has been adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist organizations.White pride advocates claim that there is a cultural double standard in which only certain ethnic groups are permitted to openly express pride in their heritage, and...
" Right Wing Resistance
Right Wing Resistance
The Right Wing Resistance was founded in Christchurch by a group of white nationalists led by Kyle Chapman, the former leader of the New Zealand National Front...
(RWR) group, which he describes as his National Alliance's "street arm". Chapman reportedly knighted the members with a sword after they recited a pledge. The group's insignia is a skull over a Wolfsangel
Wolfsangel
The Wolfsangel is a symbol. It is also known as the Wolf's Hook or Doppelhaken. The upright variant is also known as "thunderbolt" and the horizontal variant as "werewolf"....
, with the notation, "NA 14
Fourteen Words
The Fourteen Words is a phrase used predominantly by white nationalists. It most commonly refers to the 14-word slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White Children", and it can also refer to another 14-word slogan: "Because the beauty of the White Aryan women must...
". A posting on the Nationalist Alliance called the RWR the "largest Right-wing organisation Christchurch has ever seen". RWR members have engaged in street patrols in New Brighton with the stated purpose of preventing vandalism by "Polynesian youths". The mayor of Christchurch denounced their vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
behavior. Its street patrols have included from 5 to 15 members, who shave their heads
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
. In October 2009, Chapman organized a rally at the Wellington cenotaph
Wellington cenotaph
The Wellington cenotaph, also known as the Wellington Citizens' War Memorial, is a war memorial in Wellington, New Zealand. Commemorating the New Zealand dead of World War I, and World War II. it was unveiled on Anzac Day 1931 and is located on the intersection of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, by...
.
European-only community plans
In January 2009 an email was sent out concerning Chapman’s plans to create a European-only "protected community" in North Canterbury. The email stated that his intention was to “build a unified mini state that we could build up in future to be a base for other like minded Europeans to come to from other dying countries.” The email claimed the compound would have a school, accommodation, a meeting house for leaders, and a training area for sport fighting and survival training.External links
- Sunday Star Times. National Front leader Chapman resigns for his kids, 29 May 2005.
- Interview with Jim SaleamJim SaleamDr James Saleam is an Australian far-right activist and the current chairman of the Australia First Party. Saleam was a former member of the short-lived National Socialist Party of Australia in the early 1970s.Saleam co-founded National Action on Anzac Day, 1982...
, February 28 2005 - http://www.surviveclub.org.nz
- http://kyle-chapman.blogspot.com