3:30PM: In a series of disorganised moves, the most anti-gay party to contest the last general election, Destiny NZ, has folded today, ostensibly to make way for a brand new conservative Christian party. Destiny NZ's profile at the 2005 general election was notable for the anti-gay rantings of Destiny Church guru Brian Tamaki, who released a fire and brimstone DVD titled 'Nation Under Siege'. The DVD promised to reveal a "radical homosexual agenda" and backgrounded claims of social evils with images of rainbow flags and lesbian Presbyterian minister Margaret Mayman. Although Tamaki had promised his acolytes they would be running the country within a few elections, 2005 saw Destiny receive only marginally over one half of a percent of the votes cast. This in spite of Tamaki's assertion that the earlier passing of Civil Unions legislation legalising same sex relationships would create an electoral backlash against Labour and foster support for Destiny NZ. Destiny NZ says it is making way for a new Christian political grouping, and this afternoon announced that former United Future and now Independent MP Gordon Copeland is to be the as yet unnamed new party's co-leader, sharing the limelight with ex-Destiny NZ leader and disgraced former policeman Richard Lewis. Radio New Zealand has just reported that the announcement of Lewis as co-leader seems to have taken Copeland by surprise. Copeland was amongst those MPs who argued strongly against Civil Unions for same sex couples. Taito Philip Field, the ex-Labour MP awaiting a judicial decision as to whether he will face charges relating to bribery and corruption, was also in talks with Destiny NZ regarding the new party but his name has not surfaced in today's announcements.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 18th September 2007 - 4:03pm