THE FAMILY PARTY

PRESS STATEMENT FOR RELEASE

11 August 2008

Family Party not relying on 5% for Election success

Party leader Richard Lewis says for the last ten months the Family Party has been working a strategy to win key electorates, meaning unlike other minor parties outside of parliament, the party is not relying on breaking the 5 percent threshold to get into parliament.

“Since October last year the Family Party has been working the ground intensely in Mangere and Manukau. Former MP Paul Adams is standing for the third time in East Coast Bays and will put a very strong case forward for the electorate vote. By targeting and winning electorates we remove the 5 percent threshold, meaning Party Votes towards the Family Party equate to more pro-family MP’s in Parliament whether we surpass the 5 percent threshold or not,” says Mr Lewis.

In the last ten months the Family Party has visited every Mangere household three times on behalf of its Mangere candidate Galumalemana Jerry Filipaina. The party will have completed a fourth canvass by the end of August.

“We’re not just asking for the vote, we’re working very hard for it. I believe our traditional values, pro-family message is striking a chord with conservative voters in South Auckland. Based on our feedback and unofficial private polling on the ground, the Family Party is very well positioned heading into the final straight for this year’s Election. Labour’s MP for Mangere went into Parliament earlier this year and he didn’t need Mangere’s vote to get there. So a vote for him is effectively a wasted vote. A vote for Galumalemana Jerry Filipaina gives Mangere two local MP’s, meaning Mangere can have double the representation they’ve had in the past. That’s a very appealing message,” he added.

The Family Party released details of new candidates last week, including Human Rights Lawyer Michael Kidd (Waitakere), environment soil specialist Samuel Dennis (Selwyn), specialist CYFS caregiver Melanie Taylor (Northland) and Marketing specialist Louise Cleary (North Shore). Richard Lewis, a former police sergeant from Counties Manukau is standing in the Manukau East Electorate. The Party plans to release details of more candidates in due course.

ENDS

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