Election 2020: One Party Taupō electorate candidate Gary Coffin

One Party Taupo electorate candidate Gary Coffin. Photo / Supplied

Gary Coffin is a Tokoroa man through and through.

Born and bred in the town and a scaffolder by trade, Gary is senior pastor at Activate Church.

Married for 43 years, he has six daughters and five mokopuna and not surprisingly, family is are very important to him although in his spare time he also enjoys playing touch rugby and masters rugby league.

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Gary says he chose to stand for One Party because its Christian values line up with the values of his church and also because he disagrees with some of the current Government's policies.

"Some of the policies that the Government brought out during lockdown, some of them were pretty despicable and I thought 'this has got to stop' and One Party is the party to do it with."

Gary specifically mentions decriminalisation of abortion ("adoption instead of abortion") and a governmental review of hate speech legislation as concerns.

"I'm a family man. I believe in pro life from conception until the day we die, valuing life."

He says he was drawn to the One Party at its launch in the Far North where he looked at the party's kaupapa and values and decided to offer himself as a candidate.

"People say the church and politics don't mix, but actually, they do."