Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Destiny Church leaders launch 'Coalition New Zealand' party
Destiny Church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki launch 'Coalition New Zealand' party
Destiny Church's leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki have launched a new political party called Coalition New Zealand.
Destiny church leaders launch the Coalition New Zealand political party. Photo: RNZ /Joanna MacKenzie
Mrs Tamaki will lead the party with the aim of getting into parliament in next year's election.
She said she consulted extensively before making the decision to enter politics and she believed there was a silent majority who would support the party.
Mr Tamaki said he was fully supporting the party but had not decided what his role will be.
Funding for the party will come from membership and not from church donations.
Mr Tamaki said they felt they needed to get involved in politics because the Labour led government was leading the country in the wrong direction.
The government had introduced harmful policies had lacked leadership, he said.
Hannah Tamaki will lead the "Coalition New Zealand" party in the 2020 election @rnz_news pic.twitter.com/hbcTispsKI
— Joanna MacKenzie (@MacKlark) May 23, 2019
Mrs Tamaki said she was a concerned New Zealander and the time had come to make a stand.
The pair were talking to a packed media conference in the executive lounge at the Destiny Complex in Manukau.
No decision had been made yet on with constituencies the party would target.
But in a direct message to the National MP, Alfred Ngaro, Mrs Tamaki opened the door to working together.
He appeared to be "a reasonable man looking for somewhere to call home," she said.
Earlier this week, Mr Ngaro confirmed he was considering setting up a Christian party, similarly contending that mainstream political parties in New Zealand failed to engender Christian values in policies.
Yesterday, Mr Tamaki said they had been weighing up a move into politics for "a number of months".
Spokesperson Anne Williamson said the move was designed to counter an "escalating tide of poor decision-making" and the erosion of New Zealand values by politicians.
Hannah Tamaki leading the new Coalition New Zealand party opens the door to Alfred Ngaro @rnz_news pic.twitter.com/li7S8wDjP2
— Joanna MacKenzie (@MacKlark) May 23, 2019
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Ian Powell: Welcome Puberty Blockers Report But Beware Derailing Transphobia
Gordon Campbell: On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Binoy Kampmark: Join The Army; Travel To Exotic, Distant Lands; And Radicalise
Ramzy Baroud: Letters from Gaza – ‘Alhamdulillah. We Are Not Okay’
Ian Powell: Imperialism, Chagos Islanders And The Fight To Return
Binoy Kampmark: Frail Egos And Sandpit Colonialism - Australia, The United States And Invading Iraq