Paul Adams (New Zealand)

Paul Adams is a politician and former rally driving champion from New Zealand. Adams was originally a carpenter and joiner, but later established a business manufacturing outdoor playground equipment. Later, he became a professional rally driver, and won three prestigious New Zealand championships. He also owned a Kia Motors and Suzuki dealerships in Auckland.

Adams is a member of Pentecostal City Impact Church, and as a result, became involved in Christian politics in New Zealand. After first being a member of the Christian Heritage Party, he joined the religious-based Future New Zealand party. Future New Zealand later merged with United New Zealand to form the modern United Future New Zealand group, which Adams remained a member of until 2005. In the 2002 elections, Adams was ranked ninth on the United Future party list. Thanks to the unexpectedly strong performance of United Future, the party gained enough votes for eight seats, leaving Adams just outside Parliament. Later, Kelly Chal, a higher-ranked candidate, was forced to withdraw because she did not have New Zealand citizenship, which she had not realised was necessary. Adams, as the next candidate on the list, entered Parliament in her place. [cite news
title = United Future MP ruled ineligible
work = New Zealand Government Directory
publisher = Network PR
date= 2002-08-14
url = http://www.nzgovtdirectory.com/Visitors/news/Archive2002.asp#aug
accessdate = 2008-05-06 ]

Adams was one of the more conservative members of Parliament. After he was elected, it was reported that he had made a written submission on the 1993 Human Rights Bill saying that people with AIDS should not be allowed to "run loose". [cite news
last = Bowling
first = Kerry
title = Aids stand under fire
work = Wairarapa Times-Age
pages =
publisher =
date= 2002-08-08
url = http://wairarapa.co.nz/times-age/news2002/020808b.html
accessdate = 2008-05-06 ] He also spoke out about subjects like abortion, and fasted for 21 days to oppose the civil unions legislation, which was passed regardless.

On 15 August 2005 Adams left United Future to stand as an independent in the East Coast Bays Electorate gaining 5809 votes after a short five week campaign, this placed him third. He was subsequently involved with a proposed new party to be established by his former colleague Gordon Copeland and Destiny New Zealand however these negotiations collapsed, but Adams has now been announced as the Deputy Leader of The Family Party. [cite web
publisher=Radio New Zealand
title=Joint Christian party officially dead, as two new parties emerge
author=
date=17 October 2007
url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200710170940/joint_christian_party_officially_dead,_as_two_new_parties_emerge
accessdate=2007-10-17Dead link|date=May 2008]

Adams will be standing as a candidate for The Family Party in the East Coast Bays Electorate in the 2008 election. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = The Family Party Submits Formal Registration
work =
pages =
publisher = The Family Party
date= 2007-11-15
url = http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00255.htm
accessdate = 2007-12-06 ]

Adams is presently working as a real estate agent for Barfoot and Thompson in the East Coast Bays area.

References