United Future New Zealand
Te Rōpū Unaititi Heke Mai
LeaderPeter Dunne
(formation–2017)
Damian Light
(2017–dissolution)
FounderPeter Dunne
Founded2000[1]
Dissolved14 November, 2017
Merger ofUnited New Zealand,
Future New Zealand[1]
IdeologySocial liberalism
Liberal conservatism[2]
Centrism[3]
Political positionCentre[3]

United Future New Zealand,[4] usually known as United Future, was a centrist political party in New Zealand. The party was in government between 2005 and 2017, first alongside Labour (2005–2008) and then supporting National (2008–2017).

United Future was formed from the merger of the liberal party United New Zealand and Christian-dominated conservative Future New Zealand to contest the 2002 election. It was represented in the New Zealand Parliament from its foundation until September 2017. The party won eight seats in 2002; however it was reduced to three Members of Parliament in 2005. Between 2008 and 2017, United Future was solely represented in Parliament by party leader Peter Dunne, who represented the Ōhāriu electorate in Wellington. Dunne was re-elected during both the 2011 and 2014 general elections.[5][6]

In August 2017, Dunne announced his retirement from politics prior to the 2017 general election. Damian Light was appointed as the new leader on 23 August.[7] During the 2017 general election, United Future lost its sole seat in Parliament and attained only 0.1% of the party vote.[8]

In November 2017, a leaked email announced that United Future would move to dissolve after a unanimous decision by the party board to do so. On 14 November an announcement was made on the party's website signalling that the party had officially been dissolved.[9][10][11] The party was formally de-registered on 28 February 2018.[12]

History

Graphic representation of changes to Christian political parties in New Zealand, showing coalitions, mergers, splits and renamings

Formation and early success

United Future was formed from the merger of liberal centrist party United New Zealand and Christian-dominated conservative Future New Zealand to contest the 2002 election. United, formed as a centrist party by a group of moderate Labour and National MPs, held one seat in parliament—that of Dunne. Future New Zealand, which was not represented in parliament, was a "secularised" evolution of the Christian Democrats, following the same basic principles as the Christian Democrats, but abandoning the explicit religious connection.[13]

United Future's first party president, Ian Tulloch, stated that "United Future isn't a Christian party – it's a political party that has a lot of Christians in it, and a lot of non-Christians."[13] Tulloch said that the "universal principles of family, of common sense, of looking after one another, of compassion, integrity" are equally valuable to both Christians and non-Christians.[13]

Support for United Future, which was already growing in early 2002, was boosted further by Peter Dunne's strong television debating performance and the public response to it. The uplift in United Future support during the last two weeks of the campaign caught many commentators by surprise and drew votes away from National, Labour and the Green parties, who were engaged in a public squabble over genetic engineering.

United Future made a strong showing in the 2002 election, taking 6.7 percent of the vote and eight seats: Dunne's electorate seat of Ohariu-Belmont and seven list seats.[14] It would have been assured of getting into parliament in any event, however; under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional system, any party that wins at least one electorate seat qualifies for list seats even if it falls short of the five-percent threshold. The party faced a minor embarrassment after the election, however, when it was discovered that one of its list MPs, Kelly Chal, was not a New Zealand citizen, and thus ineligible to stand for parliament.[15]

Early activity

After 2002 United Future in its family law reform proposals took to heart the trauma and adverse impact on children caused by the separation of their parents. United Future MP Judy Turner made clear that then current government policies were failing in regard to keeping both parents in children's lives, and to this extent made a huge effort in promoting a member's bill on mandatory mediation by means of a national roll-out of the North Shore Family Court "Children in the Middle" pilot programme.

In December 2004, United Future MPs exercised their individual conscience votes to oppose a bill to enable civil unions. This bill, which passed Parliament by a vote of 65 to 55, provided some marriage-like benefits for same-sex couples (who could not marry in New Zealand until August 2013) and for opposite-sex couples who choose not to marry. However, Peter Dunne alone[16] among United Future MPs voted for the subsequent Relationships (Statutory References) Bill in March 2005, which passed by 76 to 44 votes and removed discriminatory wording from a range of statutes.

In mid-2004 United Future announced that it would contest the 2005 general election in partnership with Outdoor Recreation New Zealand. Cynics pointed out that, like Future New Zealand, Outdoor Recreation was a minor party with no prospect of reaching the 5% threshold (Outdoor Recreation gained 1.28% of the vote in the 2002 election) seeking parliamentary representation via the security of Peter Dunne's electorate seat.

A month before the September 2005 election, list MP Paul Adams quit the party to stand as an independent in the East Coast Bays electorate. His daughter Sharee Adams, also on the United Future List, also quit to assist her father in his campaign. After the general election, disgruntled right-winger and ex-United Future MP Marc Alexander also voiced repeated criticisms of his former colleagues, in his "Marc My Words" political opinion column for Scoop, a New Zealand news website.

In the 2005 election, United Future had the support of the WIN Party, which was set up to fight the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. WIN's leader, John van Buren, was United Future's candidate for Christchurch Central. This further spoke of alliances still to come. In this election, support plummeted to 2.8% and the party won only three seats. Peter Dunne retained Ohariu-Belmont, and Gordon Copeland and Judy Turner were returned on its party list.

United Future had tried to distance itself from its more assertive fundamentalist list MPs, such as Adams, Larry Baldock and Murray Smith. As Election New Zealand data revealed that the Outdoor Recreation Party still provided about 1% of the vote, 4.8% of the previous vote had gone elsewhere. During 2004–2005, the National Party had made renewed efforts to attract social conservative voters, through adoption of anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage voting records.

Following the 2005 election, New Zealand First and United Future entered into a confidence and supply agreement with Labour, under which Dunne became Minister of Revenue, outside Cabinet.

In March 2006 Outdoor Recreation New Zealand split with United Future, due to a dissatisfaction with what it saw as the Christian evangelism within the party. Outdoor Recreation acting chairman Phil Hoare said, "We strongly believe in the traditional bedrock values of our nation's heritage but we also affirm the separation of church and state."[17] In 2006 several younger centrist members also departed from the party.

United Future, like most New Zealand Parliamentary parties, was caught up in the 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy. It voted in favour of the retrospective validating legislation, which was passed through the New Zealand Parliament in October 2006.

Old United Future logo

From February to April 2007, Peter Dunne exercised his own right to a conscience vote to support Sue Bradford's private members bill against parental corporal punishment of children, while Gordon Copeland vigorously opposed it, as did Judy Turner, but on a more subtle level.[18]

On 16 May 2007, Copeland resigned from the party due to his dissatisfaction with Dunne's support for the aforementioned private members bill, although Turner did not follow suit.[19] Copeland was subsequently part of forming the socially conservative Kiwi Party. Several other United Future members resigned in sympathy with Copeland, including former United Future List MPs Larry Baldock and Bernie Ogilvy. In 2011, the Kiwi Party ceased to exist as an independent entity after it merged with the Conservative Party of New Zealand, another conservative Christian dominated centre-right political party, currently unrepresented in Parliament.

On 13 August 2007 United Future unveiled a new logo which Dunne said was a revitalisation of the party before the 2008 election.[20] The re-branding of the party was taken further on 3 September 2007 when Peter Dunne announced that United Future was becoming a moderate centrist party after the break with its former conservative Christian faction. Speaking of the departure of Copeland and the rest of the more strident Christians in the party, Dunne said, "I think it's taken a bit of a monkey off our back, frankly."[21]

2008 election

In 2008 the United Future Party named candidates for 51 seats.[22] Policies included tax cuts and various initiatives aimed at supporting parents, such as the extension of paid parental leave to 12 months; the option of income splitting for tax purposes for parents with dependent children and couples in which one partner relies on the other for financial support; and the promotion of shared parenting. There were also a number of health care policies including granting everyone one free health check per year.

Peter Dunne was re-elected as United Future's only Member of Parliament. He retained his parliamentary seat of Ohariu-Belmont, but United Future did not poll sufficiently highly to bring additional caucus members into Parliament. Some Future New Zealand members defected from United Future to establish The Kiwi Party, which was unsuccessful in retaining parliamentary representation after the election.

The National Party won the most seats overall and formed a minority government with support from United Future, the Māori Party and ACT New Zealand. Dunne retained his portfolios as Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister for Health.[23]

2011 election

Then-leader Peter Dunne speaking in 2012

In 2011 United Future campaigned on income splitting, flexible superannuation and restricting asset sales.[24]

Peter Dunne retained the electorate of Ōhariu electorate, formerly Ohariu-Belmont. The Labour candidate Charles Chauvel accused Dunne and the National Party of an "unprincipled political deal" which encouraged National voters to give their electorate vote to Dunne to ensure his survival as an MP.[25]

As in 2008, the National Party won the most seats overall and formed a minority government with support from United Future, the Māori Party and ACT New Zealand. Together with his previous Revenue and Associate Health portfolios, Dunne became Associate Minister of Conservation. The agreement included provisions barring the sale of Kiwibank or Radio New Zealand, and public consultation on United Future's flexible superannuation policy.[26]

Temporary party de-registration

On 31 May 2013 the Electoral Commission cancelled United Future's registration at the party's request after it failed to retain 500 members.[27] The party became an unregistered party – unable to contest the party-list vote. However, on 10 June 2013, its party president made a media release stating that it had succeeded in attracting the needed 500 members for re-registration.[28] It was subsequently reported that United Future was encountering difficulties over its re-registration, related to the need to acquire printed proof of sufficient membership, although Party President Robin Gunston had supplied the Electoral Commission with copies of traceable economic transactions associated with the influx of new members.[29]

On 16 June 2013 the Electoral Commission noted that United Future had provided the aforementioned spreadsheet record, which contained names and details of putative party members. It noted that under Section 63 of the New Zealand Electoral Act 1993, bona fide registered political parties were bound to supply name, address, eligibility for membership, evidence of paid membership fees, member authorisation to record such details and to release them to a third party. The Commission stated that it would therefore accept signed and dated (although electronically submitted) membership forms from United Future and other eligible parties as evidence of membership enrolment. Signature and membership authenticity had yet to be assessed at that point[30]

Events took a further turn when New Zealand Parliament Speaker David Carter ruled that as United Future could not guarantee that his party had 500 financially solvent members for another six to eight weeks after Dunne had submitted a membership list to the New Zealand Electoral Commission, Dunne would therefore have to sit as an "independent" Member of Parliament, and to forfeit NZ$100,000 parliamentary party leader operational funding unless and until United Future could conclusively establish whether or not it had sufficient membership to warrant re-registration. This occurred after New Zealand Labour Party MP Trevor Mallard contacted the New Zealand Attorney-General over the current legal status of United Future[31]

On 8 July 2013 Dunne stated that his party had now been able to enrol sufficient members to satisfy the Electoral Commission's random sampling techniques, although he also noted that the process of evaluation and re-enrolment would take six to eight weeks.[32] At the same time, the New Zealand Electoral Commission verified that this was indeed the case and then clarified what would happen next. There would be an interim period when it checked the actual status of the party's membership, then provided public notice of United Future's membership application and invitation of comments, then provide the applicant party's leadership with an opportunity to respond to the comments and then decide whether to refuse or approve the application from United Future[33][34] On 30 July 2013, the New Zealand Electoral Commission requested input pending United Future's ultimate re-registration[35]

On 13 August 2013 the electoral commission accepted United Future's re-registration.[36]

2014 election

As in 2008 and 2011, the National Party won the most seats overall and formed a minority government with support from United Future's single MP (Dunne) and the Māori Party.

2017 election

During the 2017 general election, United Future ran 8 electorate candidates and 10 list candidates.[12] On 21 August 2017, leader and MP Peter Dunne announced that he was quitting politics at the election, citing recent polling and his perception that there was a mood for change in his seat of Ōhāriu.[37] Damian Light was announced as the new leader on 23 August.[38] During the 2017 election, United Future gained only 0.1% of the party vote and lost its sole seat in Parliament.[8]

On 13 November 2017, an email was sent to party members, stating that a decision had been made at the previous weekend's Annual General Meeting to disband United Future in light of poor electoral results and the unlikelihood of receiving enough votes to return to parliament in the future.[9] On 14 November, Light and Dunne confirmed that United Future would be dissolving due to the loss of its Parliamentary presence.[10][11] The party's registration was cancelled on 28 February 2018.[39]

Policy

United Future adopted the following mission statement in early 2007:

"United Future is a modern centre party, focused on New Zealand's best interests. We promote strong families and vibrant communities. We seek a fair, and open society, free from poverty, ignorance and prejudice, and based on innovation, self-reliance, justice and integrity in business and personal dealings. We promote a sustainable environment, and a competitive economy which encourages growth, prosperity, ownership and opportunity through market policies where possible, and government where necessary. We want all New Zealanders, whatever their background, race or creed, to have the chance to enjoy everything that is good in our country."[40]

Electoral results (2002–17)

Election candidates nominated (electorate/list) seats won party votes popular vote Government/Opposition
2002[14] 63 / 60
8 / 120
 135,918 6.69% Supported Fifth Labour Government
2005 62 / 57
3 / 121
 60,860 2.67%
2008 51 / 30
1 / 122
 20,497 0.87% Supported Fifth National Government
2011 20 / 17
1 / 121
 13,443 0.60%
2014 11 / 11
1 / 121
 4,533 0.22%
2017 8 / 10
0 / 120
 1,782 0.07% N/A

Former MPs

Leadership

Leader

Leader Term Began Term Ended
1 Hon Peter Dunne 2000 23 August 2017
2 Damian Light 23 August 2017 14 November 2017

Deputy Leader

Leader Term Began Term Ended
1 Anthony Walton 2000 2004
2 Judy Turner 2004 14 November 2017

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Bolleyer, Nicole (2013). New Parties in Old Party Systems: Persistence and Decline in Seventeen Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780191611582. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Miller, Caroline (2010). Implementing Sustainability: The New Zealand Experience. Routledge. p. 10.
  3. 1 2 Rudd, Chris (2017). Sovereignty under Siege?: Globalization and New Zealand. Routledge. p. 130. ISBN 9781351898904. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Constitution of United Future New Zealand" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2013. The name of the party shall be United Future New Zealand
  5. ↑ "New Zealand Parliament - Parliamentary parties". Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Members of Parliament - New Zealand Parliament". Parliament.nz. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "UnitedFuture appoints Damian Light as new leader". United Future New Zealand. 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 "2017 General Election - Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  9. 1 2 "UnitedFuture proud of it's [sic] history, but all good things must end". United Future. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Dunne and Dusted: Leaked email suggests United Future to disband". newtalkzb.co.nz. Newstalk ZB. 13 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  11. 1 2 Cheng, Derek (14 November 2017). "Peter Dunne: United Future's decision to disband the right call given it is no longer in Parliament". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Party and candidate lists for 2017 Election". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 Helen Tunnah (3 November 2004). "Art of compromise at coalition party conference". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Official Count Results – Overall Status". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "No police probe into Chal error". Television New Zealand. 19 August 2002. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Relationships (Statutory References) Act". Parliamentary Conscience Votes Database. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Outdoor Recreation splits from United Future". The New Zealand Herald. 27 March 2006. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "Stop violence against children - Repeal Section 59 now | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand". Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Tait, Maggie (16 May 2007). "United Future MP quits party over smacking bill". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  20. ↑ "UnitedFuture unveils new logo | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "Dunne rebrands United Future after Christian faction split". The New Zealand Herald. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  22. ↑ Dominion Post. 15 April 2008 page A2
  23. ↑ "Key's Government". The New Zealand Herald. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Economically Right, socially Left". The Press. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  25. ↑ "Key gives Dunne clear run at Ohariu". The Dominion Post (Wellington). 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  26. ↑ "Dunne does deal to fight RNZ sale". The Dominion Post (Wellington). 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  27. ↑ "Cancellation of United Future". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  28. ↑ "UnitedFuture request to be re-registered | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "United Future applies for re-registration - Story - Politics - 3 News". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "Decision on United Future's request to amend Electoral Commission policy and procedures for Registration of Political Parties" (PDF). Img.scoop.co.nz. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  31. ↑ Vernon Small; Hamish Rutherford (25 June 2013). "Speaker strips Dunne of funding". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  32. ↑ Tracy Watkins (8 July 2013). "UnitedFuture passes membership goal". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  33. ↑ "Party registration process underway | Electoral Commission". Elections.org.nz. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  34. ↑ "Registering a Political Party | Electoral Commission". Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "Application to register political party | Electoral Commission". Elections.org.nz. 10 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  36. ↑ "Dunne's party re-registered - Story - Politics - 3 News". Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "United Future leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne quits politics". The New Zealand Herald. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  38. ↑ "UnitedFuture appoints Damian Light as new leader". Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  39. ↑ "Amendments to the Register of Political Parties - 28 February 2018". Electoral Commission. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  40. ↑ "UnitedFuture unveils new logo". Scoop.co.nz. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
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