Media Release Saturday 25 October 2003

Destiny NZ Party Delegates Announced

New Zealand's newest political party, Destiny NZ, announced twenty two delegates today during its party conference in Auckland. The delegates represent a wide range of backgrounds from resource management, business and high court law to health, the army and Maori education.

Party leader, Richard Lewis, said the delegates were leaders and influencers in their own right and will stand as candidates or function as regional managers for Destiny NZ.

The party also released the first stage of its party policies which focus on empowering families. Lewis said NZ's success as a country would be determined by the structure, health and long term prosperity of families.

"While we recognise in 2003 there is a diversity of family structures that are lobbying for recognition, we believe that the intergenerational family centred on marriage is the epitome of family ideals, and the single most important contributor to the social and economic prosperity of our nation, " said Lewis.

Several key initiatives were proposed including financial incentives to encourage marriage commitment such as marriage miliestones, support for married first home buyers, greater support for full time mothers, abstinence education programmes in schools and the establishment of an Organised Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Party president, David Jesze, outlined Destiny NZ's economic policies which highlight more accountability and transparency in government spending, business support, fair and free trade and an Exporters' Support Policy.

"Destiny NZ encourages a "Support New Zealand Business" campaign, which substitutes imported products with locally made goods," said Jesze. "We must protect New Zealand industry sectors by carefully re-evaluating tariff reductions for imports and considering long-term effects on regional employment."

"Destiny NZ will further review tax laws and the business 'enemy number one regulation' - The Resource Management Act - that hinders economic growth instead of encouraging it. Some of our business people here know exactly what I'm talking about," said Jesze.

The party's Treaty of Waitangi policies were well received at the conference. Lewis said the party's Family Policy was designed with Maori in mind understanding that whanau is central to Maori culture.

"We must fully restore the Crown/Maori relationship and face Treaty issues in the strength of unity," said Lewis. "Unity in relationship can powerfully resolve issues at a speed and depth that legal process can never achieve."

Destiny NZ's policies will be posted on the party's website (www.destinynz.org.nz) on Thursday 30 October 2003.

Ends

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