Human Rights Party (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Human Rights Party is a small political party
in New Zealand
. It focuses on what it sees as social justice
, believing that insufficient emphasis is placed on people's economic, social and cultural rights. The party believes that liberals
are in error by pursuing only civil and political freedoms, saying that without a just society, the disadvantaged cannot exercise these freedoms.
In the 2002 elections
, the Human Rights Party stood one candidate, Anthony van den Heuvel. He won 66 votes. In the 2005 elections
, van den Heuvel stood again, and was joined by Anthony Ravlich. The two gained a total of 66 votes between them. In the 2008 election
, the party stood three candidates, gaining 222 votes. One of its candidates, Anthony Ravlich, was subsequently convicted and fined $200 for refusing to file the required return of electoral expenses
The party contested the 2009 Mt Albert by-election
, gaining 13 votes.
The party is standing a single candidate in the 2011 election
: Anthony van den Heuvel in Auckland Central
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It focuses on what it sees as social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, believing that insufficient emphasis is placed on people's economic, social and cultural rights. The party believes that liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
are in error by pursuing only civil and political freedoms, saying that without a just society, the disadvantaged cannot exercise these freedoms.
In the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, the Human Rights Party stood one candidate, Anthony van den Heuvel. He won 66 votes. In the 2005 elections
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
, van den Heuvel stood again, and was joined by Anthony Ravlich. The two gained a total of 66 votes between them. In the 2008 election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, the party stood three candidates, gaining 222 votes. One of its candidates, Anthony Ravlich, was subsequently convicted and fined $200 for refusing to file the required return of electoral expenses
The party contested the 2009 Mt Albert by-election
Mount Albert by-election, 2009
A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mount Albert on 13 June 2009. There were fifteen candidates in the election. David Shearer of the Labour Party won the election with 63% of the vote...
, gaining 13 votes.
The party is standing a single candidate in the 2011 election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
: Anthony van den Heuvel in Auckland Central
Auckland Central
Auckland Central is a New Zealand electoral division returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Its current representative is Nikki Kaye, a member of the National Party; she has represented the seat since 2008....
.