Copeland, Baldock committed to Advisory Council

Future NZ Press Statement
For Immediate release
Thursday, 20 September 2007

The following press release is from Gordon Copeland and Larry Baldock co-leaders of Future NZ.

It has now been a few days since the shock announcements by Bishop Brian Tamaki at his Deregistration press conference of Destiny NZ. We feel it is important to release information on the background facts in order to clarify our position prior to and post the unauthorised announcements.

On July 10th at a meeting of various church and Christian leaders, Bishop Brian Tamaki offered to deregister the Destiny political party immediately in order to pave the way for one single vehicle to represent many values voters in the 2008 elections. He also proposed that Richard Lewis should be considered as co-leader of the single vehicle. In his written proposal he said this would include “the end to Bishop Tamaki’s ability to speak to political issues on behalf of a Christian political vehicle.”

The National Advisory Council members present accepted both proposals. In accepting their recommendation, Larry Baldock proposed that this would need some time to work through and it was agreed that the political representatives were left to sort out the details of how this would take place.

As co-leader of Future NZ, Larry Baldock was asked if he would be prepared to lay down his leadership to make way for Richard Lewis and Gordon Copeland was similarly asked if he would be prepared to accept Richard as the new co-leader. We both responded affirmatively and also agreed to delay the registration of Future NZ while all the details of timing was worked through.

At the last meeting of the National Advisory Council held in mid August, Bishop Tamaki reaffirmed his commitment to deregister.

Also, further to the request for FNZ to put its registration on hold, the National Advisory Council recommended that all party meetings of FNZ cease from Aug 29th. This was complied with by FNZ.

At that same meeting decisions were made to make the deregistration announcement along with the Bishops own personal statements about his withdrawing from formal political involvement separate from any announcements about the registration of the single vehicle and its leadership and its new name for a number of well accepted reasons.

Bishop Brian Tamaki and Richard Lewis had no authorisation to make any announcements on Sept 17th except the matter of the deregistration of the Destiny Political party and the Bishops withdrawal from political involvement which they had sole responsibility for. All other announcements are invalid. Richard Lewis is not co-leader of anything at this point in time.

Gordon Copeland and Larry Baldock remain co-leaders of Future NZ political vehicle that is currently on hold at the recommendation of the National Advisory Council pending their further advice and recommendations.

The party that will ultimately be registered to contest the 2008 elections will not define itself as a Christian political party but rather a party with a constitutional commitment to Judeo-Christian values with an open and inclusive philosophy. This is consistent with the recommendations already agreed to by the National Advisory Council.

We wish to emphasise our commitment to working with the National Advisory Council to achieve the objective of a single political vehicle to represent values based voters and achieve electoral success in 2008.

Gordon Copeland MP and Larry Baldock.
Co-leaders Future NZ.

ENDS