What is it with these people. Politics and religion do not mix. Oops that is wrong. It works in only one religion. The religion of peace.
National needs friends … Is former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro the answer?
The coalition lifeline that National will need if it’s to have a chance at the next election looks set to come in the form of a Christian party led by one of its own, former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro.
Brian Tamaki will be pissed that these upstarts are encroaching on his turf of South Auckland. Will he stand for Parliament and join the Liabours?
How many christian parties have we had now? Why do they not last the distance?
Repost of the relevant article that Rachael posted in Have Your Say.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12231733
Who?
This is a good strategic move by National. As well as targeting the heavily religious population with a current and respected MP setting up his own party, National will gain a suitable support partner, and the move tidies up the Jamie-Lee Ross debacle.
And Ngaio will be targeting the votes of the South Auckland Christian vote who have historically voted Labour .
WG, it may be a good strategic move for National if Ngaro stands as a candidate only in an electorate that is likely to vote along god-bothering lines.
Ngaro was basically anonymous when given the chance in a National cabinet and only his resignation has made (minor) headlines since.
Far from giving National support any party formed and run by this fellow will be nothing but a (very small) millstone around it’s neck.
I doubt he’d win the electorate.
If he knocks the Left vote down even by 1% in the party vote it might be useful.
Similarly for the stupidly-named Sustainable Party, if it helps split the Green Party vote, I say encourage them.
I wouldn’t be so sure Colinxy . I’m a Botany Resident and there is a sizeable Christian vote here -it is a truely conservative electorate. Ross will be shown the arse card at the next GE and if National chase the Party only vote leaving Ngaro the electorate seat; there is a high probability that he will get in.
The biggest threat to Ngaro is the NZ MSM as they have shown a great propensity to mock Christian values (strangely they are silent on the counter values of the Religion of Peace however..). As long as he stays on the moderate side of the “Christian Values” continuum and not go all Tamkaki/Craig weird; he should be fine as I’d suggest this represents what most conservative voters agree with.
I wonder why he is leaving National?
I think Alfred Ngaro should have joined with the New Conservatives. The Herald says he may stand in Botany. Elliot Ikilei, Deputy Leader of the New Conservative Party already is planning on standing there. I wonder what Ngaro’s new party’s position will be on firearm law.
Oops Chuck – should have had my eyes open and read your post before I burst into print.
Well God defend NZ is not going to be sufficient I am afraid and I am all for Christians being given a voice, or at least a choice and it sounds like it is a good fit for the electorate. I would pick Christian values over every other.
Surely he would have been better to join up with the New Conservative Party. There seems a lot of common ground there and they have a bit of gravitas.
The Conservative Party needs to get their name out there then. The only thing I’ve heard about them is from our very own Chuck. Do all these parties think FB is the only forum for raising their political profile?
https://www.newconservative.org.nz/
Admittedly, I only discovered them from FB. Some things I like, some things I don’t.
Have a look at their firearm policy. If National does not change their firearm policy the NC will get some of their votes.
https://www.newconservative.org.nz/firearms-policy
I don’t agree with asking neighbours about their neighbours suitability to hold a license.
Me neither. None of their business anyway. The current process of one family member/one non-family member is fine.
Agree WG.
Today Eliot rang Andrew Dickens .I missed the start but what I heard was very encouraging.
Evidently it is available on their site replay about 2.15pm.
There were some good responses to the call.
I have caught Ngaro on Face TV twice lately and think he is a nice guy but Eliot much more impressive.
Not sure what is wrong with National .Ngaro is not the option.They need to face up to the fact that the NCP are all set up and running and have policies more in tune with what National used to be.Get over any connection with past events and embrace a decent common sense party.
Also remember there is more to NZ than Auckland.I think there are large numbers of provincial kiwis looking for a party of substance to support.
But if that is a National cunning plan, surely starting up his own would be more likely to resonate with National voters. And if he wants to do it for Christians, he is after all a pastor then he would also want it to resonate within the National Party votes.
He would need to resonate with more than National Party voters. It would be foolish if he and Elliot from the NC both stood in Botany. In any case, this is all hypothetical.
It would be ridiculous, does Elliot live in the electorate? Who ever has more chance of winning should run surely.
Our host asks:
How many christian parties have we had now?
Off the top of my head & in no particular order:
Kiwi
Christian Democrat
Future NZ
Family Party
Christian Heritage
Destiny
Conservative (old)
Conservative (new)
Why do they not last the distance?
Most have been the haven of child molestors, perverts & would be adulterers. They have all the appeal of a shit sandwich to the average NZ voter.
But above all they are control freaks seeking a mandate for yet more control in a market sliced, diced & wrapped up by National & Labour.
I knew I could rely on you nasska to answer. Well done.
There is the ancient choice to separate the church and state. Religious parties always give me a pause for concern. So far the above list has proven the wise statesmen who recognised this separation as being the correct decision as being right.
The New Conservatives are not a christian party.
Perhaps the New Conservatives should not have used “conservative” in their name as that will forever leave people assuming they are a replacement for the wacky, self-destructive Colin Craig Conservative Party.
I beg to differ. Wikipaedia states that the New Conservatives are:
#opposed to same-sex marriage
# wish to repeal the ‘anti-smacking’ child discipline law
# They oppose abortion
# They are opposed to decriminalisation of marijuana.
AND
# Their President, Leighton Baker is a “committed Christian” who has the endorsement of McCoskrie the Mad of Family First Fame.
# Elliot Ikilei is Deputy President & a Godnutter.
If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck & quacks like a duck then it’s a duck!