Christian Heritage Rejects Nats Overtures In Wanganui

PRESS RELEASE

7 November 1999

Graham Capill
Party Leader

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE REJECTS NATIONAL PARTY OVERTURES IN WANGANUI

The Christian Heritage Party has rejected overtures made to it by the National Party in the Whanganui Electorate.

The National Party’s Electorate Campaign Manager, Mr David Bennett, wanted to come to an arrangement which would see the Christian Heritage Party candidate, Gael Donoghue, endorse the National Party candidate in the constituency vote, while asking Christian voters to ‘vote prayerfully guided by their consciences’ about which Party would make the best government before they decided on where to place their Party vote, in return.

Mr Capill said the suggested arrangement was an ‘insult’ and showed how desperate National was. “They are prepared to use Christianity to boost their sinking chances. We are not about to play that game.

“Maybe the National Party should have thought about their marginal seats before rejecting an electoral arrangement with us. To now come with a Clayton’s arrangement is insulting to us as a Party and a clear abuse of Christianity,” Mr Capill said.

Mrs Donoghue was concerned that the National Party was preparing to undermine her campaign by trying to present her and the National Candidate in a united front. It was suggested that a pamphlet would be published and placed on cars parked outside churches.

“This is politics at its worst. Nothing is sacrosanct including the use of church members. I do not appreciate being ‘heavied’ in this way. I am fourth on the Party List – Mr Borrows is 45th on his list. I have a real chance to represent Wanganui, and National would have me jettison this privilege?” she asked.

“The National Party is not a Christian Party. Whether another Christian from their ranks gets into Parliament or not, will neither change the humanistic face of the National Party nor its highly unsatisfactory record in Government. Voters deserve to have the clear choice of a competent Christian candidate who has the support of a Christian Party. This is what Gael Donoghue can offer the local electorate,” Mr Capill concluded.

Contact: Party Leader Graham Capill (021) 661 766
Gael Donoghue (025) 514 980 or (06) 347 6000

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