Tuesday 18th September 2007

Richard Lewis
Leader
Destiny New Zealand

Thank You For Attending Today’s Press Conference. I Also Want To Welcome Our Online Viewers.

As The Leader Of Destiny New Zealand, I Wish To Honour And Aknowledge The Party’s Visionary – Bishop Brian Tamaki.

I Also Want To Pay Special Tribute To Our Management Team, Candidates, Members And Supporters.

In 2003 Destiny New Zealand Launched Primarily To Have A Political Voice.

Our Message Aimed To Uphold The Traditional Christian And Pro-Family Values That Founded Our Nation And Created The Freedoms We Enjoy Today.

We Contested The 2005 General Election Realising It Was A ‘Mission Impossible’ In Terms Of Achieving Representation In Our First Campaign.

Nevertheless, We Stood First-Class Candidates In Electorates Nationwide. We Were One Of Only Three Parties To Contest All Seven Maori Seats. We Presented Articulate Pro-Family Policies Right Across The Board. And In The 3-Week Campaign Period Leading Up To The Election We Knocked On Over A Million Household Doors. In Other Words – We Gave It Our Best.

We Might Have Been The Highest Polling Party Outside Of Parliament But We Were Still Well Short Of Breaking The 5% Threshold Or Winning A Seat.

Of Recent Times We’ve Enjoyed A Level Of Success Polling Ahead Of Parties Such As United Future, Act And The Progressives. We Have A Nationwide Organisation And A Well Established Profile.

However, Since The Election We Have Spent A Lot Of Time Considering The Way Forward.

Over The Last 3-4 Months, I Have Been Privileged To Participate In A Series Of Strategic Meetings With Other Christian Political Stakeholders.

These Discussions Have Been Guided By A Group Of Seasoned Christian Ministers And Leaders Derived From A Variety Of Churches, Denominations And Christian Organisations.

The Goal Has Been To Unite Christian Political Efforts To Achieve A Single Party.

Destiny Nz Is Currently New Zealands Only Registered Christian Political Party.

As The Bishop Has Said, Despite What Might Be Achieved Through The Destiny Party, We Consider The Cause Of A Single Voice To Champion Family Values In Parliament As More Important Than Retaining The Destiny Vehicle.

Therefore, As Part Of The Process Towards Creating A New, Broadly Represented Christian Values Party, I Wish To Affirm That Destiny New Zealand Will Be De-Registered.

The National Management Board Of The Party Has Endorsed This Course Of Action And The Secretary Will Now Formally Notify The Electoral Commission Of This Intent.

Details Pertaining To The Composition And Look Of The New Vehicle Will Be Made In The Near Future.

Once Again, Thank You For Attending Today’s Press Conference.

Thank You.

ENDS

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