New Zealand Democratic Coalition

The New Zealand Democratic Coalition was a proposed moderate political party intended to contest the 1996 General Election. It would have been led by former Prime Minister Mike Moore and was intended to capture the balance of power on election night. Ultimately it was not registered and Moore stayed with Labour for the 1996 election.

Members

Involved in the discussions were;

• Mike Moore - Former Prime Minister who had been replaced as Labour leader after the 1993 election.
• Michael Laws - Renegade National backbencher.
• Geoff Braybrooke - Labour MP & Friend of Moore.
• Jack Elder - Another Labour MP & one of Moore's caucus allies.
• Peter McCardle - National MP.
• Clayton Cosgrove - Mike Moore's former Private Secretary in Christchurch.
• Ron Mark - Former Labour Party Candidate for the Selwyn electorate.
• Tony Day - Moore's local campaign organiser and former Fendalton candidate for Labour.

Timeline

• Held alongside the 1993 general election was a referendum that gave voters a choice between the current electoral system, First Past the Post, and the Mixed Member Proportional system. They decided on reform. This created opportunities for many smaller parties to be formed and win representation in parliament.
• Early in 1994 both Laws and Moore appear on TVNZ's current affairs programme Fraser. Here they discuss the opportunities for a new centre party on air. The two decide afterwards that they should meet again to further discuss this opportunity.
• In July 1994: Bruce Beetham writes to both Laws and Moore individually to offer his New Zealand Centre Coalition as a foundation for any party they are contemplating forming. This coalition consists of a weird mix of ideas and platforms including fragments of Beetham's Social Credit revival, the remains of the New Zealand Party, Tania Harris' anti-Union "United party" and the Confederation of United Tribes. Both individuals seem to have largely ignored this offer.
• Late 1994; A meeting between Moore and Michelle Boag is organised by Laws to discuss the potential of National Party donors financing a new Centre party.
• 1995: Meetings in Wellington between the five interested MPs. These are centered around the Yangtze restaurant. Mike Moore is still uncommitted.
• A "breakfast club" is formed in which Laws, McCardle, Moore and Elder regularly meet to further discussions. Braybrooke is left out of these as he is suffering ill-health but he remains determined to follow Moore to any new party. Many names are considered including the "Peoples Party" before Democratic Coalition is selected.
• In August 1995 a "conference" is held in Christchurch that involves all the MPs as well as Cosgrove and Mark. Here they elect Rosy Fenwick, a Hastings GP and friend of Laws, to be secretary-general and form a document known as "The Aims & Objectives of the New Zealand Democratic Coalition". Moore declares he is 95% Committed.
• By the end of 1995 Over 600 financial members have been signed up and the party is ready to be registered (500 members are required to be registered under New Zealand Electoral Law). However Mike Moore is still undecided on forming the party.
• Last week of the 1995 parliamentary session Moore meets with Laws, McCardle and Elder to declare himself 99% committed. The First week of the 1996 parliamentary session is discussed as an ideal launch date.
• In an interview with the Sunday Star-Times the following weekend Mike Moore says he is committed to Labour.
• January 1996: A meeting is held in Moore's office. With Moore still uncommitted Michael Laws tells the others he will instead join the New Zealand First party. This led to Mike Moore pulling the plug on the project despite the other MPs still being keen.
• McCardle also left National to join New Zealand First.
• April 1996: Elder leaves the Labour Party to join New Zealand First.

Aims & Objectives

To Select candidates of ability and integrity for election to the New Zealand House of Representatives who accept and endorse the following principles, aims and objectives:

1. To protect and promote the family unit;
2. To respect and uphold the rights and liberty of the individual;
3. To promote equality of opportunity regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic, cultural or religious background;
4. To provide economic and social policies that allow individuals to maximise their potential for both private and the common good;
5. To ensure the equality of all persons before the law...;
6. To protect New Zealand's territorial integrity and ensure this nation's independence in all international forums;
7. To promote co-operation and tolerance within the wider community;
8. To provide and promote an open and competitive economy that recognises and rewards enterprise and endeavour.
9. To provide policies that protect the weak and the vulnerable within our community and seek to empower those individuals to reach their potential.
10. To provide for and actively encourage the maximum possible participation in all aspects of local and central government decision-making;
11. To create an educated, enlightened, enterprising and responsible society and pursue policies to that end.
12. To provide an efficient, effective and accountable public sector that services the education, health and welfare needs of the wider community and is politically neutral and free of ideological bias;
13. To provide all members of the New Zealand Democratic Coalition with the opportunity to contribute to the organisation, policy and strategy of the Coalition.

Aftermath

Michael Laws announced his switch to New Zealand First in April 1996. However he was forced to resign as an MP shortly afterwards due to the "Antoinette Beck" scandal. He continued to work behind the scenes for New Zealand First helping them prepare for the 1996 election before retiring from politics. In 2004 he was elected the Mayor of Wanganui, a position he held until 2010.

Ron Mark, Peter McCardle and Jack Elder followed Laws to the New Zealand First party and became list MPs after the 1996 election. New Zealand First ended up holding the balance of power and formed a coalition with the National Party. Peter McCardle became the Minister of Employment and Jack Elder was appointed the Minister of Police. Ron Mark became the government's senior whip. In the later break up of the New Zealand First party McCardle and Elder stayed with the Government but did not seek reelection in 1999. Ron Mark instead remained with New Zealand First and stayed in parliament until the party's defeat in 2008.

Mike Moore was reelected as a Labour MP in 1996 but resigned in early 1999 so he could serve as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Moore's term ended on August 31, 2002.

Clayton Cosgrove stood for Labour and was elected as the MP for Waimakariri in the 1999 election, replacing Moore. He currently still holds the seat.

Geoff Braybrooke retained the Napier seat until he finally retired at the 2002 elections.

Sources

• Laws, Michael. The Demon Profession. Auckland, HarperCollins (New Zealand), 1998. ISBN 1-86950-257-4