Freedoms New Zealand

Freedoms New Zealand, also known as Freedoms NZ: Uniting Political Parties and Freedom Movements[1] is a registered political alliance in New Zealand founded on 22 August 2022 following a series of protests led by Brian Tamaki and Sue Grey. It is an "umbrella party", consisting of an alliance between Tamaki's Freedom and Rights Coalition organization, the registered New Nation, Vision NZ, and Outdoors & Freedom parties, and the unregistered Yes Aotearoa and Rock the Vote parties.

Freedoms New Zealand
Co-leaders
Think tankThe Freedoms & Rights Coalition
IdeologyAnti-establishment[1]
Big tent
Political positionFar-right[2]
Members
Website
freedomsnz.org.nz

Formation

Formed as an "umbrella of hope", Tamaki announced the party on 22 August 2022 during the "People's court" protest in Wellington.[3]

The party's goals according to Tamaki would be to address the cost of living crisis, health, gang crime, as well as the shared goal of seeing “the political establishment cleaned out”.[1]

Original members

Tamaki announced that the party consists of the Vision NZ Party, the New Nation Party, and the NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party,[3] however the latter responded that Tamaki had "jumped the gun" and that they "requested time to discuss the issues together".[4][5][6] Outdoors and Freedom Party president Alan Simmonds would later express his concerns of being "labelled a totally freedom nutter party".[7][8]

A number of other politicians and parties declined to join, despite being specifically encouraged to consider it by Tamaki in his announcement speech. These included New Conservative Party, New Zealand First, and newly independent MP Gaurav Sharma.[9] Similarly, when The Freedoms & Rights Coalition issued a statement expressing interest for the participation of several additional parties, none of them joined. These included Matt King's DemocracyNZ, Heartland New Zealand Party, ONE Party, Social Credit Party, Sustainable New Zealand Party, The Opportunities Party, and the New Zealand TEA Party.[10]

The party applied for registration on 28 November.[11] Registration was approved on 16 February 2023.[12]

May 2023 expansion and co-leadership

The Outdoors & Freedom Party changed its earlier position and joined Freedoms NZ in May 2023. At the same time Outdoors & Freedom co-leader Sue Grey was announced as the co-leader of Freedoms NZ alongside Tamaki.[13]

Two other groups were also added to Freedoms NZ at the same time - unregistered parties Yes Aotearoa and Rock the Vote New Zealand.[14][15]

Reactions

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party, did not formally rule out working with the party.[2] However, Luxon stated he doubted the party would enter parliament.[16][17] Luxon told reporters to "read between the lines", stating that National had little in common with the party.[5] Grant Robertson of the Labour Party would later criticise Luxon for failing to give a clear statement on National's position on the party.[5]

David Seymour, the leader of ACT New Zealand ruled out collaboration with Freedoms NZ. Seymour stated "I don't think that you could have a serious conversation with people who hold a show trial for crimes against humanity". Seymour expressed his sadness over the overshadowing of individuals who had grievances with the government's handling of the pandemic with those who had run show trials.[5]

The Green Party's Marama Davidson stated that "it is far too dangerous to be able to even consider working" with the party considering their "violent agenda" and "exploitation of people".[5]

References
  1. Manhire, Toby (6 August 2022). "Brian Tamaki claims four parties to join in new umbrella group to contest election". The Spinoff. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  2. Shaw, Richard (25 August 2022). "Refusing to rule out working with Brian Tamaki, Luxon gives NZ's populist right a 'sniff of credibility'". The Conversation. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  3. "Brian Tamaki announces new political party". NZ Herald. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  4. "Brian Tamaki 'jumped the gun' – Outdoors and Freedom Party". 1 News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  5. Witton, Bridie (24 August 2022). "Parties line up against National for refusing to rule out working with Brian Tamaki's Freedoms NZ". Stuff. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  6. Sowman-Lund, Stewart (24 August 2022). "Tamaki's new Freedoms coalition hits a bump in the road". The Spinoff. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  7. "Brian Tamaki's Freedom NZ applies for formal party registration". The Spinoff. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022. Tamaki had originally declared that the Outdoors and Freedom Party would be part of the umbrella group, but that has failed to transpire.
  8. Wilson, Janet (26 August 2022). "Janet Wilson: In the parliamentary circus, there are as many clowns inside as outside". Stuff. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  9. Sowman-Lund, Stewart (23 August 2022). "Tamaki announces new 'Freedoms' party, calls for Gaurav Sharma to join". The Spinoff. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  10. "MINOR PARTIES UNITE". TFRC. The Freedoms & Rights Coalition. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  11. "Application to register a political party". Electoral Commission. 28 November 2022.
  12. "Registration of Freedoms New Zealand". Electoral Commission. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  13. "Brian Tamaki to run for Parliament as Freedom NZ leader". RNZ. 13 May 2023.
  14. "Outdoors Party reveals it's joining forces with Brian Tamaki's Freedoms NZ". Newshub. 13 May 2023.
  15. Hollingworth, Adam (13 May 2023). "Election 2023: Brian Tamaki's 'umbrella party' believes they could get 20 percent of vote". Newshub.
  16. "Christopher Luxon says too early to talk about coalition with new Freedoms NZ party". RNZ. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  17. "Luxon 'doesn't anticipate' Freedoms NZ entering Parliament". 1 News. Radio New Zealand. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
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