15 January 2002

The Electoral Commission announced today that it had refused the application of the Piri Wiri Tua Movement for registration as a political party.

The Commission accepted submissions from the Ratana Church and others that to allow a political party to be registered under the Electoral Act 1993 with the words “Piri Wiri Tua” as part of its name would be likely to cause confusion or to mislead electors since members of the Ratana Church would conclude that the Church had endorsed or supported the party.

This is not the case. The Church had lodged a very strong objection with the Commission to the use of “Piri Wiri Tua” in the party’s name because of the close association of the words with the Church and its founder, T W Ratana.

ENDS

© Scoop Media