Christians squabble after launch

LAWERENCE SMITH/Sunday News

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, right, and political representative Richard Lewis field media questions after the announcement of the disbanding of the party's poltical wing and the formation of the new Christian-based party involving groups from around the country.

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Sniping has erupted even before a new Christian political party is up and running, after one of its co-leaders was forced to show his hand just a day after denying any knowledge of the move.
On the House blog: Forget Copeland, new political party is Destiny's child

The Destiny Church-backed Destiny NZ party yesterday confirmed its intention to de-register and throw its weight behind a new political party, co-led by Destiny NZ leader Richard Lewis.

Future NZ leader Gordon Copeland, a UnitedFuture defector, was immediately forced to declare he would be the other co-leader, after earlier professing not to know Destiny's intentions.

Immediately after the announcement, Mr Copeland appeared rankled about sharing the co-leadership role with Mr Lewis.

"I think I can probably live with that but the reality is I've got five years of parliamentary experience ... so from my point of view quite a lot of mentoring will have to happen."

Mangere MP Phillip Field, ousted from Labour as he awaits bribery charges, has also been courted by the new party and is set to sign up if he is cleared by the courts.

The new party, which is yet to get a name, is backed by a "national advisory council", said by Destiny and Mr Copeland to comprise "seasoned" church leaders but whose members want to remain secret for now.

A membership list has apparently been circulated to churches and is said by Destiny and Future NZ to have members from all the major churches.

But Mr Copeland yesterday insisted that its members could not afford to be named.

"It compromises those people if their names become public."

Mr Copeland had insisted on Monday that he did not know what was going to be announced at yesterday's press conference called by Destiny Church head Brian Tamaki to confirm the new political party.

He also insisted in an interview with The Dominion Post that his Future NZ party would be campaigning at the next election.

He explained that yesterday as necessary to avoid confusion before the new party was up and running.

"It would have just confused everybody if I'd said Future NZ was not going to be standing in 2008, so it was a bit of a tight corner to be in and to get out but I think in view of what's happened today you can see the continuity."

Recent polls have given Destiny NZ the same level of support as parties including UnitedFuture and ACT, and more than Mr Copeland's Future NZ.

But Bishop Tamaki said if Christian politicians wanted a genuine voice in Pariament, they would be "far more effective together than we are apart".

He and Mr Copeland were agreed that the new party would seek a coalition with National if it won parliamentary representation.

But National leader John Key, whose predecessor Don Brash was dogged by dealings with the Exclusive Brethren, yesterday downplayed that likelihood.

- © Fairfax NZ News