KEY POINTS:
MP Gordon Copeland is leaving United Future because of his opposition to the bill changing the law around smacking. He is re-forming the Future New Zealand Party which United Future was previously allied with.
He would co-lead the party with former colleague Larry Baldock who has been running
a petition against the Bradford bill.
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views we had on the topic.
Rachel
Contrary to the people who think that Gordon Copeland's resignation is ridiculous and does not reflect 'Christian honesty', I on the other hand strongly support his decision. It takes a lot of courage for someone to stand up for what he believes in and risk the whole nation condemning and scrutinising him. Yet, he chose to follow his integrity as well as the belief that most New Zealanders hold - that the anti-smacking bill is unworkable and is just a tool for the state to interfere in family lives and (mostly) good parenting. Furthermore, he was not dishonest throughout the process. He did not answer falsely to the questions that he was asked. Although his actions might appear to betray the other MPs in United Future, it definitely does not betray the family values that underlie the party. And unlike what some have claimed, I am of the opinion that his Christian beliefs were mirrored in his actions.I therefore applaud Mr Copeland for taking a firm stand for what he believes in.
Fed up with lies
Good on Gordon Copeland for resigning over the anti smacking bill but like all MPs is full of hot air when it comes to the pinch, to resign then not vote is a vote for the law.. so another MP looking after number one , himself.
Robyn Morris
Sorry - Gordon who? The Labour Government let the "Waka Jumping" legislation lapse at the last election. Hence List MP Mr Copeland can stay in Parliament without a mandate to do so. I'll bet, if his pay cheque was in jeopardy he would have not been as quick to quit the party.
Michael Ellis
It's a complete fabrication that List MPs are elected to Parliament to represent a Political Party - they are all elected to represent those who voted for them. It's up to Gordon Copeland to act as he sees fit to represent those who voted for him as a member of United Future. After all, they (and others) have the option of not voting for him at the next election.
Sammy
Man nobody has heard of quits party nobody supports to start party nobody will vote for.So anyway, how's the weather where you are?
Derek Smith
Mr Copeland got into Parliament on the coat-tails of Mr Dunne, who has solid support in his electorate and a high national profile. If Mr Copeland is truly a man of Christian integrity, he should resign his seat, foregoing his salary and other perks.
Adam
Hopefully he will be replaced by somebody with a mentality not from the stone age. Interesting his 'Christian principles' he holds so highly and is one of the reasons he is leaving, didn't extend to the fact only a few weeks ago he told party leader Peter Dunne (after hearing rumuors he would resign) that he would be the last person to leave the party and he was here to stay. Good riddance.
Brian
Politicians are elected by the people for the people, something most seem to have lost sight of. It is refreshing to see one of them putting the will of the people before his own self interest. The majority of the people were against this bill, as they were against lowering the drinking age, but the majority of our Politicians do not give a damn what the people think.His party supported a bill which was against the wishes of the people. He deserves high praise for taking this action.
JohnP145 (Auckland)
All but 8 of our elected - and unelected - MPs have let the country and the majority of its citizens down very badly. This farce, which tries to make smacking and assault synonymous - is simply social engineering, and we should fear for our future ..
SB
I wish more politicians would stand up for what they believe in. We have too many politicians playing silly little games in parliament. Good on you Mr Copeland, we need more politicians like you.
Ian
Absolutely ridiculous, if a list MP resigns from a Party, then they must resign from parliment completely. How can Mr Copeland possibly even suggest, particularly as a so called Christian, they have a right to stay there until the next election. There is only one course of action to be taken here, the Party Hopping legislation must be brought back and passed as a permanent law change, not temporary as the case was prior to the last election. Unbelievable, so much for Christian honesty etc. Besides Mr Copeland's chances are nil next year because Christian parties have an appalling track record in NZ elections, thank goodness !
John
I think our electoral laws are an ass. If a person gets into Parliament as a list MP, then it was the party that won the right to that seat, not the member. Therefore, if the list MP then resigns from that party, surely they are resigning from Parliament also because the seat belongs to the party. If this is not the case, then Parliament needs to change the laws so it is the case.
Andy
Onya, Gordon. Nanny State is not wanted/needed in my life! Shame on all who voted for this draconian legislation. Here's hoping NZ sees the light and deals to Clark & her Sisterhood at the next election.
Dolly
This person has no right to remain in Parliament. He is a list MP, so should vacate his seat immediately and allow the next person on the Party list to take it. It is about time that list MPs realised that they are getting their salaries to make up the numbers required by the party vote. No voter elected them personally as a representative. If they no longer align themselves with the party they represent, then they have no place in our House of Representatives!
Peter
At last - a politician with the backbone to stand up to the intrusions on our lives that this government is forcing on us and the commonsense and honesty to realise that MPs are put in parliament by us to represent us, not to run roughshod over our opinions and lives.
Ray Coster
Fully support Mr Copeland. It is good to have politicians of integrity.
Jim Bohm
Not content to let the democratic process and an overwhelming majority vote prevail, Mr Copeland insists that his interpretation of "Christian principles" is the only right one. Yet he takes refuge in dubious polls to support his argument, not the Bible, strangely. His resignation from United Future is not the genuinely principled step he might wish others to believe. Rather it is the action of a man incapable of understanding that his views lack support, and of accepting that he has neither the right nor the power to foist them on the New Zealand public. I am grateful that MMP allows views of this sort to be heard in Parliament, so they are judged for what they are, and relegated to the Dark Ages where they belong. Bring back the party hopping legislation I say. Without it lonely, lowly backbenchers like Mr Copeland will always be tempted to throw their toys out of the cot when their unrealistic notions of power are not realised. And would Mr Copeland have the moral clarity to resist smacking his own kid for similar behaviour? I wonder. Good riddance to him and his narrow-mindedness I think.
