For Immediate Release

Future New Zealand underway

Independent MP Gordon Copeland, together with his former United Future colleagues Larry Baldock & Bernie Ogilvy, today announced that they will now begin their Party's formal registration process with the Electoral Commission.

Future New Zealand, which already has some 750 members, will also hold its inaugural national conference in Tauranga on Saturday 17 November.

The Party will be co-led by Gordon Copeland and Larry Baldock with Bernie Ogilvy as Party Secretary.

"The Party has come together with remarkable speed," said Mr Copeland.

"I left United Future on the 16th of May to launch Future New Zealand coinciding with the 3rd reading of the Anti-Smacking Bill. We signed up out first 500 members - the number required before we could commence the registration process - on 7 July. The support from right across New Zealand continues to grow week in, week out and has been enormously encouraging."

Larry Baldock reported similar progress in building the party structure.

"In the last few months we have brought together a diverse range of talented people who will comprise out Board of Management," said Mr Baldock.

"Early next year we will build up our Regional structures and begin the process of candidate selection as we prepare for the General Elections."

"We are releasing today a 4 point summary of some of the foundational principles of Future New Zealand to give clarity concerning some important and sometimes controversial issues."

Attachment - Party Political Positioning

Future New Zealand Party – Political Positioning

1. This party has a constitutional commitment to Judeo-Christian values and seeks to represent all New Zealanders who share those values.
2. Policies will be developed in relation to welfare, employment, education, health, justice, housing and all of the other portfolio areas which comprise the work of Government. However emphasis will be placed on family based policies that support our conviction that strong healthy families are the key to a free and prosperous New Zealand. These policies shall include support for marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and parenting courses as initial steps toward addressing the challenging social problems of family breakdown, family violence, absent fathers, and child abuse.
3. The separation of the institutions of the Church and State is affirmed. The work of the Government and the work of the Church are different vocations, both which aim, each in their own way, to advance the welfare of all people.
4. The Party will have an Advisory Council which will act as guardians of the Party’s commitment to Judeo-Christian values and ensure that the governing body the Board of Management, elected politicians, all office holders and candidates support those values.

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