Party
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Founded
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Disbanded
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Description
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Socialist Party
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1901
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1913
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One of the more prominent Marxist parties in early New Zealand, strongly associated with the Federation of Labour (the "Red Fed"). It eventually merged with the more moderate United Labour Party to form the Social Democratic Party.
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Communist Party
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1929
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1994
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Probably New Zealand's most prominent and long-lived communist organisation. The party generally pursued hard-line doctrines, successively following Stalin's Soviet Union, Mao Zedong's China, and Enver Hoxha's Albania. In 1993, the party moderated its stance, adopting Trotskyism. It later merged with another party to form the group now known as Socialist Worker.
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New Zealand Legion
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1930
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1934?
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A short-lived crypto-fascist political movement advocating conservative political reform and opposition to party politics and state bureaucracy. It was associated with John Ormond and later Robert Campbell Begg and did not see itself as a political party.
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World Socialist Party
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1930
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1996
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A party established by former members of the New Zealand Marxian Association, a Marxist group. Its founders created it as an alternative to the mainstream labour movement, claiming that the Labour Party had moved too far from its left-wing roots. The World Socialist Party was rebranded from its founding name; the Socialist Party.
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Democrat Party
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1934
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1936
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A party established to promote the interests of the commercial sector and to oppose "socialist" legislation. The party contested the 1935 election, but failed to win any seats. Ironically, the votes which the Democrats took from the governing coalition may have assisted the victory of the left-wing Labour Party that year. The Democrat Party should not be confused with the modern Democratic Party.
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Liberal Party
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c. 1938
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c. 1949
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A centrist anti-socialist liberal party formed ahead of the 1938 election but withdrew its candidates. Mostly inactive during World War II, it was briefly revived in the late 1940s.
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People's Movement
|
1940
|
?
|
A right-wing organisation which supported reductions in the size of government and a reform of the party system. It was a strong supporter of individualism, saying that the government of the time was advocating the subordination of the individual to the state.
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Real Democracy Movement
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1942
|
?
|
A Social Credit theory based party which advocated economic security combined with individual liberty. It also advocated that all returned servicemen should be paid the average wage until they were re-integrated into civil employment.
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Co-operative Party
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1942
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1943?
|
A short-lived party established by Albert Davy, a prominent anti-socialist political organiser. It was primarily a breakaway from the larger People's Movement, and Davy rejoined the Movement the year after the Co-operative Party was established.
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New Zealand Liberal Federation
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1956
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1958?
|
A party formed by ex-National and Social Credit candidates who wished to revive "Seddon liberalism" via a third party.
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Liberal Party
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1962
|
?
|
A party which campaigned in the 1963 election on a platform of reducing the size of the government, introducing a written constitution, and restoring the upper house of Parliament.
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Democratic Progress Party
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1966
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c. 1968
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Founded as the Democratic Party ahead of the 1966 election, the party was centrist with policies emphasizing individual freedoms. In 1967 the Progress Party was formed but merged with the Democratic Party one week later becoming known as the Democratic Progress Party.
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Socialist Unity Party
|
1966
|
?
|
A splinter group of the Communist Party (see above). It was formed by Communist Party members who rejected their party's decision to take China's side in the Sino-Soviet split. The Socialist Unity Party became one of the more prominent communist parties in New Zealand.
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Republican Party
|
1967
|
1974
|
A party established to promote the creation of a New Zealand Republic. It was founded by left-wing activist Bruce Jesson, and was the product of the Republican Association, an anti-royal protest group founded by Jesson in 1966.
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National Front
|
1968
|
?
|
A far-right, ultranationalist and white nationalist organisation.[21] It acted as a political party around the 2000s.
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Liberal Reform Party
|
1968
|
1972?
|
A party initially launched as a revival of the decades earlier Country Party by the New Zealand Free Enterprise Movement in 1968 it was renamed the Liberal Reform Party in 1970 after failure at the 1969 election and contested the 1972 election under this name.
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National Socialist Party
|
1969
|
?
|
A party founded by prominent far-right activist Colin King-Ansell. It is sometimes considered the first noteworthy far-right party in New Zealand.
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Communist League
|
1969
|
?
|
Communism, Marxism-Leninism
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Values Party
|
1972
|
1990
|
Sometimes called the world's first national-level green party. Elements of the Values Party eventually contributed to the formation of the modern Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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New Democratic Party
|
1972
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1973
|
A short-lived splinter group of the Social Credit Party, founded by ousted Social Credit leader John O'Brien. It placed fifth in the 1972 election, but failed to win any seats.
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Imperial British Conservative Party
|
1974
|
?
|
A joke party founded by Ian Brackenbury Channell, better known as "The Wizard of New Zealand". True to its name, it claimed to support imperialism, British people, and conservatism.
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|
Mana Motuhake
|
1979
|
2005
|
The most prominent Māori-based party until the creation of the modern Māori Party. Mana Motuhake held a number of seats as part of the Alliance (see above), but most of its support has now been incorporated into the Māori Party.
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|
McGillicuddy Serious Party
|
1983
|
1999
|
A joke party intended to satirise politics in general. Among other deliberately absurd policies it advocated the "Great Leap Backwards", a project to reverse the Industrial Revolution and to re-establish a medieval way of life.
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New Zealand Party
|
1983
|
1993
|
A party established by property tycoon Bob Jones to promote free market economic policies and liberal social policies. It gained twelve percent of the vote in its first election, but then vanished almost completely. Some regard the modern ACT party as the New Zealand Party's ideological successor, but not everyone accepts this view.
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Social Credit-NZ
|
1988
|
1993
|
A splinter party of Democrat Party, founded by former leader Bruce Beetham, believing the Democrats had abandoned Social Credit policies. It contested the 1990 election, but failed to win any seats.
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Socialist Party of Aotearoa
|
1990
|
?
|
Formed in 1990 through a split in the Socialist Unity Party, the party was best known through the influence of its late founder Bill Andersen, a well-known trade unionist who served as president of the Auckland Trades Council, national secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, and president of the National Distribution Union.
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Mana Māori Movement
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1993
|
2005?
|
A party that addresses the concerns of New Zealand's indigenous Māori inhabitants, founded by Eva Rickard, a prominent Māori activist and a former Mana Motuhake candidate.
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Natural Law Party
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1993
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2001?
|
A party which based its principles on the concept of natural law as promoted by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his theory of Transcendental Meditation. It drew most of its support from the New Age movement.
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Kiwis Against Further Immigration
|
1994
|
1998?
|
An anti-immigration party founded as the New Zealand Defence Movement to contest the 1993 election it changed its name to Kiwis Against Further Immigration in 1994.
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|
Advance New Zealand
|
1995
|
1997
|
A party that advocated for multiculturalism and the interests of ethnic minorities, with a substantial segment of its membership came from New Zealand's Pasifika communities.[22][23] Advance New Zealand merged into United New Zealand in 1997.[22][23][24] Not to be confused with the unrelated party of the same name founded in 2020.
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|
Libertarianz
|
1995
|
2014
|
A libertarian party dedicated to laissez-faire capitalism and keeping government as small as possible.
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Republican Party
|
1995
|
2002
|
A party established to promote the creation of a New Zealand Republic. The party contested the 1999 election, but only won 250 votes. Should not be confused with The Republic of New Zealand Party or the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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|
Progressive Green Party
|
1995
|
?
|
An environmentalist party established in opposition to the generally left-wing policies of the larger Green Party. It contested only one election before vanishing, although many of its members became active in the National Party.
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Christian Coalition
|
1996
|
1997
|
A brief alliance of the Christian Democrats and the Christian Heritage Party. It narrowly missed entering Parliament in the 1996 election, and disbanded shortly afterwards.
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Animals First
|
1996
|
2000
|
A party dedicated to animal rights and animal welfare. It received 0.17% of the vote in 1996[25] and 0.16% of the vote in 1999,[26] deregistered in 2000.
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Nga Iwi Morehu Movement
|
1996
|
2011
|
A small Maori-based party which has been active in a number of elections
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Ethnic Minority Party
|
1996
|
1997
|
A party that addresses the concerns of New Zealand's immigrant community, particularly Chinese and Indians. The popularity of New Zealand First, a party which opposed immigration, was a significant factor in its creation. It merged into United New Zealand, but little trace of it remains today.
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Asia Pacific United Party
|
1996
|
1999
|
A party which attempted to gain support from Asian and Pasifika immigrants. It contested the 1996 election, but has since dissolved.
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|
Green Society
|
1996
|
2001
|
A small environmentalist party. The Green Society believed that a true green party needed to be focused solely on the environment, and believed that the Green Party (then part of the Alliance) and the Progressive Green Party were both mistaken to take sides in economic and social debates.
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Future New Zealand
|
1998
|
2002
|
A reconfiguration of the former Christian Democrat Party. Future New Zealand retained the same family values principles as the Christian Democrats, but abandoned the explicit religious basis. Future New Zealand merged with United New Zealand to form the modern United Future New Zealand.
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|
South Island Party
|
?
|
2002
|
A regionalist party which called for more autonomy for the South Island, the less populous of New Zealand's two main islands. It drew support predominantly from Otago and Southland.
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|
Aotearoa NZ Youth Party
|
1998
|
2011
|
A platform for campaigner Robert Terry, who stood for electorate seats four times under this banner.
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|
Freedom Movement
|
1999
|
?
|
A registered party which contested the 1999 general elections, receiving 454 party votes.[27]
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|
NMP
|
1999
|
2003
|
NMP sought to abolish all political parties, among other policies.[28][non-primary source needed] It contested two elections before disbanding.[29]
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Te Tawharau
|
1999
|
2007
|
A Māori party which split off from the Mana Māori Movement. It lapsed with the formation of the Māori Party.
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|
One New Zealand Party
|
1999
|
2006
|
A small party modelled on Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party in Australia. It opposes all special policies towards Māori.
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People's Choice Party
|
1999
|
2002
|
A small party which was registered for the 1999 election, but which is currently unregistered. It campaigned against MMP and in favour of reducing the size of Parliament.
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|
Outdoor Recreation NZ
|
2001
|
2007
|
A party dedicated to promoting the interests of the hunting, fishing, and shooting communities. Outdoor Recreation New Zealand contested the 2005 election under the banner of the United Future party, although the parties did not actually merge. This working arrangement met with disappointing results.
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|
Workers Party
|
2002
|
2011
|
Formerly known as the Anti-Capitalist Alliance. A coalition of socialists and anti-globalisation activists.
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|
Destiny New Zealand
|
2003
|
2007
|
A party based in the Destiny Church, a Christian religious organisation. The party mostly campaigned on a family values platform, and strongly opposed legislative changes such as the creation of same-sex civil unions and the legalisation of prostitution.
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|
Residents Action Movement
|
2003
|
2010
|
A left-wing party aiming to bring together social liberals, community activists, social democrats and left-wing radicals.
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WIN Party
|
2004
|
2006
|
A single-issue party devoted to overturning the recently introduced smoking ban in bars and restaurants.
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99 MP Party
|
2005
|
2006
|
A party primarily focused on reducing the total number of MPs from 120 to 99. It also believed that all constitutional changes should be put to a referendum.
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Direct Democracy Party
|
2005
|
2009
|
A party which sought to increase the participation of ordinary citizens in the political process. It advocated a system of referendums similar to that used by Switzerland. Not to be confused with another group formed in 2020 that joined Advance New Zealand,
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|
Family Rights Protection Party
|
2005
|
2007
|
A party established by a group of Pasifika who claim that larger parties are taking the support of Pasifika for granted, and do not do enough to help them.
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The Republic of New Zealand Party
|
2005
|
2009
|
A party focused on establishing a Republic in New Zealand. It also supports the adoption of a written constitution, the holding of referendums on major issues, and the abolition of race-specific government institutions.
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Freedom Party
|
2005
|
2005
|
A party established by two former members of ACT New Zealand. Its policies were intended to be similar to those of ACT, but the party's founders said that the Freedom Party will be more democratic and accountable to its members.
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Equal Values Party
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2005
|
2008
|
A left-wing party active during the 2005 election. It supported free education and healthcare, an increase to social welfare benefits, and the establishment of compulsory superannuation schemes.
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Family Party
|
2007
|
2010
|
A small Christian party established by the former Destiny New Zealand.
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Kiwi Party
|
2007
|
2012
|
A revival of the Christian Democrats / Future New Zealand brand. The party advocates more representative direct democracy through referendums and a return to the "Judeo-Christian ethic in democracy".
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|
Hapu Party
|
2008
|
2008
|
A Māori-based party established to challenge the Māori Party.
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Bill and Ben Party
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2008
|
2010
|
A joke party run by Bill and Ben, hosts of the TV show Pulp Sport.
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New World Order Party
|
2008
|
2011
|
A party promoting global peace through a unified World Government
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Representative Party
|
2008
|
2010
|
The New Zealand Representative Party was led by Reg Turner, a former candidate for the ACT Party. The party claimed to have no policies, favouring seeking the opinions of voters on issues, and opposed traditional left-right politics.[30] However, it also promoted populist referenda, deregulation, compulsory military service, "stopping the culture for young unmarried women to have babies", and restricting the welfare state.[31] The party ran only a single candidate, Turner, in the 2008 election. By 2010, its website was defunct and it did not run any candidates in the 2011 election.
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No Commercial Airport at Whenuapai Airbase Party
|
2008
|
2008
|
A local party which grew out of the movement opposing a commercial airport at Auckland's Whenuapai airbase.
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New Zealand Liberals
|
2008
|
?
|
A small party modelled on the old New Zealand Liberal Party and the UK Liberal Democrats. It advocates constitutional reform, republicanism, and civil rights.
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Pirate Party of New Zealand
|
2009
|
2017
|
A copyright reform party based on the Swedish Pirate Party, with a focus on technological issues, like net neutrality.
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New Citizen Party
|
2010
|
2012
|
A short-lived party formed to represent Chinese New Zealanders. It came third in the 2011 Botany by-election, but dissolved before contesting a general election.
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Join Australia Movement Party
|
2011
|
2011
|
A party advocating union with Australia.
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Sovereignty Party
|
2011
|
?
|
A nationalist party which contest the 2011 election
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Reform New Zealand
|
2011
|
?
|
A right-wing party advocating free market economics, low taxation, and reduced government. It was established by dissatisfied members of ACT New Zealand, and advocates similar policies of low taxation, privatisation, and reduced government. It never attempted to register with the New Zealand Electoral Commission and did not stand any candidates.
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OurNZ Party
|
2011
|
2011
|
A party advocating a new currency, binding referenda, and a written constitution.
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New Economics Party
|
2011
|
?
|
A party advocating substantial economic reform such as a universal basic income and multiple currencies. It stood a single candidate in one election.
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|
Thrive New Zealand
|
2012
|
2013
|
Party logo registered in August 2013. Advocated Direct Democracy via an online tool called RealVoice.
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Focus NZ
|
2012
|
2016
|
A party aimed at representing rural New Zealand.
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1Law4All Party
|
2013
|
2015
|
A party aimed at overturning the Treaty of Waitangi.
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Civilian Party
|
2013
|
2015
|
A joke party which arose from a popular New Zealand satirical website.
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|
Expatriate Party
|
2014
|
2014
|
A party related to issues facing New Zealanders outside New Zealand.
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|
Ban 1080 Party
|
2014
|
2018
|
A party that opposed the use of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poison.
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Internet Party
|
2014
|
2018
|
A party advocating for less surveillance, copyright reform and cheap internet. The Internet Party contested the 2014 general election in an alliance called Internet Party and Mana Movement, and contested the 2017 election on its own.
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|
New Zealand People's Party
|
2015
|
2020?
|
A party with a focus on immigrant rights. It became a component party of Advance New Zealand for the 2020 election.
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|
Sustainable New Zealand Party
|
2019
|
2021
|
A Green Liberal party founded by former Green and National Member Vernon Tava. Considered to be "teal" or "blue-green" by the Media.
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|
New Zealand Public Party
|
2020
|
2021
|
A component party of Advance New Zealand.[32] Founded in June 2020 by Billy Te Kahika Jr. At its launch, Te Kahika said that the COVID-19 pandemic would enable globalist leaders to implement UN agendas that would totally control people's lives, and that billionaires had developed weaponised viruses and patented treatments for the viruses they had made, in order to enslave humanity.[33][34][35][36][37] It merged with Advance New Zealand in July 2020.[38]
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Integrity Party
|
2020
|
2020?
|
|
|
Advance New Zealand
|
2020
|
2021
|
A party founded by former National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross.
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|
Attica Project
|
2020
|
2022?
|
An anti-neoliberal party.
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|
New Zealand TEA Party
|
2020
|
2022
|
A fiscally conservative party.
|