New party faces uphill battle
A new political party firmly ensconced on the right-hand side of the political spectrum hopes to contest the next election.
However, political experts are sceptical there is room for another party in territory already held by ACT.
Wellingtonian
Daniel McCaffrey revealed the policies of Better New Zealand on Twitter on October 14 with a teaser to a full party launch set for mid-2019.
In a list of policies and proposals, McCaffrey said he was pushing for the removal of excise duties on tobacco, alcohol and petrol and the legalisation of cannabis.
Professor Jack Vowles from Victoria University said history was against the new party.
‘‘The history of alternative centre-right or right-wing parties’ efforts to be successful under MMP doesn’t bode well for the success of this party,’’ Vowles said.
‘‘There are no obvious reasons why this party should get anywhere.’’
Along with a significant reduction in excise duties, Better NZ advocated a companies tax set at 10 per cent, with financial benefits expected by the party’s policy makers to trickle down to workers. Other policies included the proposal to remove the country from any climate change effort as New Zealand’s contribution to change was ‘‘futile’’.
Dr Claire Timperley, also from Victoria University, said the recent example of The Opportunities Party illustrated how difficult it was for new parties to brake the necessary five per cent threshold.
‘‘The 5 per cent is really difficult. TOP was distinctive enough and had some star power and money behind it. It was well positioned to make a move,’’ Timperley said.