Bob McCoskrie Family First is lodging a High Court appeal against being deregistered by the Charities Commission Board. The Board has made it clear the group has lost its charity status due to its political activities. "The Board’s position is that Family First’s main purpose is to promote particular points of view about family life. Under the Act promotion of a controversial point of view is a political purpose,” Charities Services General Manager Brendon Ward has stated. "In making its decision the Board determined that Family First does not advance religion or education, nor promote a benefit to all New Zealanders as determined by the Act. "Family First maintains that it is beneficial to the public that it promotes debate and discussion of different points of view on family life. However, the current legal position is that promoting debate on particular points of view is not a charitable purpose." Family First head Bob McCoskrie believes it’s a political conspiracy to somehow muzzle his group due to its opposition to marriage equality.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 27th May 2013 - 9:59am