Christian party has had it tough

Ewen McQueen, leader of Christian Heritage NZ, is looking for 5 per cent of the vote. Picture / Brett Phibbs

In 2002 the Christian Heritage Party was the highest polling party not to get a seat.

It received 27,492 votes for 1.35 per cent of the vote - just 0.35 per cent behind the Progressive Coalition, which has two seats, thanks to leader Jim Anderton winning his electorate.

But the years since 2002 have not been kind to the party now known as Christian Heritage NZ.

First it endured a messy divorce with its high-profile deputy leader Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, then former leader Graham Capill was convicted of multiple sex offences, including the rape of a young girl.

The party has moved to distance itself from Capill. New leader Ewen McQueen has condemned the hypocrisy of morals-crusader Capill.

"[Christian Heritage] has been through a tough couple of years, there's no doubt about that, but I think people now realise that Graham Capill hasn't been the leader for two years and he is well behind us," Mr McQueen said.

Christian Heritage policies include affirming marriage, building families and celebrating life "as God's precious gift".

It is opposed to abortion, except when the mother's life would be at risk otherwise.

Mr McQueen is hoping for 5 per cent of the party vote in the election.

"There are more than enough Christian voters in New Zealand to get over that 5 per cent threshold."

On television, Mr McQueen went out of his way to put some distance between the party and its disgraced former leader.

"We have all been shocked this year about the news about Graham Capill," Mr McQueen said.

"It is now clear that as a party we allowed a terrible hypocrisy to be committed in our name. I want to apologise to all New Zealanders for that - it should never have happened and we very much regret that it has."

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE

Leader: Ewen McQueen
Candidates: 6 candidates standing in 5 electorates and one list only candidate.
Party's first election: 1990
Highs: Strong but unrewarded showing in 2002 election.
Lows: Former Christian Heritage leader Graham Capill's arrest and conviction for sex crimes against children.
Genesis: New Zealand's first Christian party.
Philosophy: "Promoting positive policies that will affirm marriage, build families and celebrate life as God's precious gift".

Key policies

Biblically based policies.
Introduce a Definition of Marriage Act to define marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman.
Allow married couples to split their income for tax purposes.
Introduce a Values in Sex Education Act.
Repeal of Civil Unions Act.

- NZPA, staff reporter