United New Zealand
Encyclopedia
United New Zealand was a centrist
political party
in New Zealand
founded in 1995. It merged with the Christian-based Future New Zealand
party to form the United Future New Zealand party in 2000.
electoral system. It was intended to be a centrist party, encompassing moderate voters from both the centre-left and the centre-right. The party was established by four MPs from the National Party
, two MPs from the Labour Party
, and former Labour MP Peter Dunne
, who had already established his own party, Future New Zealand
(not to be confused with the Christian-based party of the same name
which United later merged with). The party was led by Clive Matthewson
, a former Labour MP.
The MPs who established United were:
The party, while initially attracting interest, performed poorly in the 1996 election. The party's policies were centrist and liberal in nature but to many appeared too bland to attract media profile. In addition, Matthewson, while charismatic, was seen by many as an intellectual light-weight. When United entered into a coalition with the governing National Party in 1996, securing a Cabinet
post for Peter Dunne, many commentators claimed that the party had abandoned its centrist stance. United claimed that a deal with National would allow United to moderate National's more extreme right-wing tendencies and that such arrangements would become common practice under the new MMP system.
In the 1996 election
, United performed poorly. Bruce Cliffe had indicated he would resign from Parliament in 1996. Peter Dunne was the only United MP to retain his seat, with all others being ejected from Parliament. Clive Matthewson, whose seat had been abolished in the change to MMP, placed fourth in his new electorate. As the party's only surviving MP, Peter Dunne became leader of United.
In the 1999 election
, United's share of the vote declined even further, with swinging voters shifting to Labour to oust the Shipley government. However, Peter Dunne managed to retain his electorate seat thereby preserving United's parliamentary representation.
United merged with a social conservative, evangelical Christian-based party Future New Zealand
(not to be confused with Peter Dunne's party before United was formed) in 2000. Future New Zealand, formerly the Christian Democrats
, was not represented in parliament. The merged party adopted the name United Future New Zealand, and established a caucus that has extended from seven (47th New Zealand Parliament, 2002–2005) to three (48th New Zealand Parliament, 2005–2007) down to two members (48th New Zealand Parliament, May 2007 – 2008) with the departure of Gordon Copeland MP. Of these caucuses, Dunne remained the only constituency MP, while his caucus was formed from United Future's MMP party list, and consisted of MPs who are progressive on social justice issues but conservative on some moral issues.
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
political party
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...
founded in 1995. It merged with the Christian-based Future New Zealand
Future New Zealand
The Kiwi Party is a New Zealand political party formed in 2007. Briefly known as Future New Zealand, it is a breakaway from the United Future New Zealand party and seeks to carry on the tradition of Future New Zealand. The party was formed when MP Gordon Copeland left United Future after a dispute...
party to form the United Future New Zealand party in 2000.
History
United was founded in the middle of 1995, one of a number of new parties hoping to capitalize on the upcoming switch to the MMPMixed member proportional representation
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
electoral system. It was intended to be a centrist party, encompassing moderate voters from both the centre-left and the centre-right. The party was established by four MPs from the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, two MPs from the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, and former Labour MP Peter Dunne
Peter Dunne
Peter Dunne is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament who leads the United Future political party. He has served as a Cabinet minister in governments dominated by the centre-left Labour Party as well as by the centre-right National Party...
, who had already established his own party, Future New Zealand
Future New Zealand (Dunne)
This party should not be confused with the better-known Future New Zealand, a continuation of the Christian Democrats.Future New Zealand was the name chosen by Peter Dunne for the party he founded after leaving the Labour Party. After spending several months as an independent, Dunne formed Future...
(not to be confused with the Christian-based party of the same name
Future New Zealand
The Kiwi Party is a New Zealand political party formed in 2007. Briefly known as Future New Zealand, it is a breakaway from the United Future New Zealand party and seeks to carry on the tradition of Future New Zealand. The party was formed when MP Gordon Copeland left United Future after a dispute...
which United later merged with). The party was led by Clive Matthewson
Clive Matthewson
Clive Denby Matthewson MNZM , is a former New Zealand politician.Matthewson was originally a member of the Labour Party, representing the Dunedin West seat. He left Labour in 1995 to jointly establish the United New Zealand party with six other sitting MPs...
, a former Labour MP.
The MPs who established United were:
- Margaret AustinMargaret AustinMargaret Elizabeth Austin, CNZM is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing first the Labour Party and then United New Zealand....
(Labour) - Bruce CliffeBruce CliffeBruce Windsor Cliffe is an international business man and a former New Zealand politician. He was born in Auckland, and attended Takapuna Grammar School.-Member of Parliament:...
(National) - Peter DunnePeter DunnePeter Dunne is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament who leads the United Future political party. He has served as a Cabinet minister in governments dominated by the centre-left Labour Party as well as by the centre-right National Party...
(Future New Zealand, originally Labour) - Clive MatthewsonClive MatthewsonClive Denby Matthewson MNZM , is a former New Zealand politician.Matthewson was originally a member of the Labour Party, representing the Dunedin West seat. He left Labour in 1995 to jointly establish the United New Zealand party with six other sitting MPs...
(Labour) - Pauline GardinerPauline GardinerPauline Gardiner is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:Gardiner was a member of parliament from 1993 to 1996, representing first the National Party and then United New Zealand...
(National) - Peter HiltPeter HiltPeter Malcolm Hilt is a former New Zealand politician. He was born in Auckland, and attended Takapuna Grammar School.- Biography :...
(National) - John RobertsonJohn Robertson (New Zealand)John Struan Robertson is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:He was an MP from 1990 to 1996, representing first the National Party and then United New Zealand. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 general election as MP for Papakura, replacing Merv Wellington...
(National)
The party, while initially attracting interest, performed poorly in the 1996 election. The party's policies were centrist and liberal in nature but to many appeared too bland to attract media profile. In addition, Matthewson, while charismatic, was seen by many as an intellectual light-weight. When United entered into a coalition with the governing National Party in 1996, securing a Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
post for Peter Dunne, many commentators claimed that the party had abandoned its centrist stance. United claimed that a deal with National would allow United to moderate National's more extreme right-wing tendencies and that such arrangements would become common practice under the new MMP system.
In the 1996 election
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, United performed poorly. Bruce Cliffe had indicated he would resign from Parliament in 1996. Peter Dunne was the only United MP to retain his seat, with all others being ejected from Parliament. Clive Matthewson, whose seat had been abolished in the change to MMP, placed fourth in his new electorate. As the party's only surviving MP, Peter Dunne became leader of United.
In the 1999 election
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, United's share of the vote declined even further, with swinging voters shifting to Labour to oust the Shipley government. However, Peter Dunne managed to retain his electorate seat thereby preserving United's parliamentary representation.
United merged with a social conservative, evangelical Christian-based party Future New Zealand
Future New Zealand
The Kiwi Party is a New Zealand political party formed in 2007. Briefly known as Future New Zealand, it is a breakaway from the United Future New Zealand party and seeks to carry on the tradition of Future New Zealand. The party was formed when MP Gordon Copeland left United Future after a dispute...
(not to be confused with Peter Dunne's party before United was formed) in 2000. Future New Zealand, formerly the Christian Democrats
Christian Democrat Party (New Zealand)
The Christian Democrat Party of New Zealand was a Christian political party established in 1995. It contested the 1996 general election as part of the Christian Coalition with the Christian Heritage Party....
, was not represented in parliament. The merged party adopted the name United Future New Zealand, and established a caucus that has extended from seven (47th New Zealand Parliament, 2002–2005) to three (48th New Zealand Parliament, 2005–2007) down to two members (48th New Zealand Parliament, May 2007 – 2008) with the departure of Gordon Copeland MP. Of these caucuses, Dunne remained the only constituency MP, while his caucus was formed from United Future's MMP party list, and consisted of MPs who are progressive on social justice issues but conservative on some moral issues.