UnitedFuture leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling for more tolerance in the current immigration debate. “I want to make our position clear, UnitedFuture is a party that embraces diversity, celebrates our multi-cultural heritage and believes that immigration and support for our migrant community will always be an important part of our national fabric. …
The dance of the seven veils on United States Navy ship visits finally ended this week with the revelation that USS Samson, a guided missile destroyer, would represent the United States at the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Royal New Zealand Navy in November. But like the conclusion of most such dances, the final revelation…
Hope and trust. Two words not many New Zealanders would associate with politics today. More likely cynicism and apathy. This was nowhere more evident than in the record low voter turnout for the recent local elections (although UnitedFuture aligned candidates still polled around 25,000 votes). And there would perhaps be some even less flattering words associated with politicians themselves.…
Local elections are over and for the first time we ran candidates under the UnitedFuture banner. On average our candidates gained 3% of the vote (in one case as high as 5%), which shows there is support for UnitedFuture and our candidates. A party vote at this level during the general election means three or…
UnitedFuture leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling for additional support to be put in place for mental health in our healthcare system. This week is Mental Health Awareness week, it is a week where we should reflect on how our society grapples with the many and complex issues that associated with mental health. Supporting our…
So, the Leader of the Opposition thinks elections should not be about who wins the centre ground. He is right, up to a point, especially about bringing together “coalitions of interests” in his bid to win office. Where he is wrong, however, is that no New Zealand Government – single or multi party, pre or…
Congratulations to all the UnitedFuture and UnitedFuture aligned candidates who contested the recent local body elections. Overall, we polled about 25,000 votes, which is extremely encouraging. Special mention must go to former MP and deputy leader, Judy Turner, who, as Deputy Mayor, topped the poll for the Whakatane District Council and Lee Carter who was…
This year for the first time the Party AGM was held on the North Shore in Auckland in the Northcote electorate of Damian Light. Members & new supporters from all over NZ gathered to hear the Party Leader give his leader’s address. Then during his President’s address, retiring President Damian Light confirmed the key points…
Around 2002, when I first was elected to Parliament with Hon Peter Dunne, a book came to the attention of our caucus, called The Politics of Hope by Jonathon Sacks. It was a book that captured our thinking and helped clarify the principles that underpin United Future. I remember Peter Dunne recommending it to people…
Most of us are either shaking our heads in disbelief or laughing in amazement at the ongoing train wreck that is the American Presidential Election campaign. The hype, the hyperbole, the sleaze and the vitriol, let alone the virtual disregard for anything approaching the truth, are at a level we have never seen before. And…