New Zealand TEA Party explained

Country:	New Zealand
New Zealand TEA Party
Colours:	Purple
Seats1 Title:	MPs in the House of Representatives
Leader:	John Hong and Susanna Kruger
Ideology:	Anti-racism Fiscal conservatism
Position:	Centre^[1]
Website:	Website is no-longer active. (6 May 2022)-->

The New Zealand TEA Party (Taxpayers and Entrepreneurs Alliance) was a registered political party in New Zealand. The party was led by John Hong. The party contested the 2020 general election, but did not win any seats.

Policies

The party defined itself as anti-racist, socially democratic, and fiscally conservative.^[2] It supported reform of the Family Court of New Zealand.^[3] Party policies included support for business, opposition to capital gains taxes, embracing migration and multiculturalism,^[4] and opposition to legalisation of recreational cannabis consumption.^[5]

It had no connection to the American Tea Party movement.

History

Foundation

The party was founded by two former Auckland mayoral candidates, John Hong and Susanna Kruger, and it included a third; John Palino, who ran his electorate campaign from Florida, where he was living during the COVID-19 pandemic. At its creation, the party was co-led by Hong and Kruger. The party's website described Roger Douglas as its patron.^[6]

2020 general election

The party did not apply for a broadcasting allocation for the 2020 general election.^[7] In July 2020, the TEA Party applied to the Electoral Commission to be a registered party and it was registered on 6 August 2020.^{[8] [9] [10]} In September 2020, the TEA Party announced their candidate list for the 2020 election.^{[11] [12]} Youth wing president, Dominic Hoffman Dervan was also a TEA Party list candidate and stood for the Auckland Central electorate contesting in the 2020 general election.^{[13] [14]}

The party received 2,415 of the party vote, or 0.1%, in the 2020 election, and won no electorate seats, so did not enter Parliament.^[15]

Present status

The party's registration was cancelled at its request on 14 September 2022.^[16] It did not field candidates in the 2023 general election.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 16 June 2020. John Hong takes tilt at national politics through Tea Party. 7 December 2020. Newsroom. en-AU.
2. Web site: John Hong takes tilt at national politics through Tea Party . Sam . Sachdeva . . 16 June 2020 . 19 June 2020.
3. Web site: New Political Party Addresses Thorn In Labour's Side . Scoop . 13 June 2020 . 19 June 2020.
4. Web site: Braae. Alex. 2 September 2020. John Palino is running for parliament – from Florida. 2 September 2020. The Spinoff.
5. Web site: Our policies . 25 August 2020 . New Zealand TEA Party . 17 October 2020.
6. Web site: 9 June 2020. Meeting with patron Sir Roger Douglas. 19 September 2020. New Zealand TEA Party.
7. Web site: 29 May 2020. 2020 Broadcasting Allocation Decision Released. 19 June 2020. Electoral Commission.
8. Web site: 18 July 2020. Three parties apply to register. 18 July 2020. New Zealand Electoral Commission.
9. Web site: 13 July 2020. General election candidates: Who will be standing?. 15 July 2020. New Zealand Herald.
10. Web site: Registration of three parties and logos. 6 August 2020. New Zealand Electoral Commission.
11. Web site: Party profile: TEA Party. 8 September 2020. Policy.nz. en-NZ.
12. Web site: About. 8 September 2020. teaparty.org.nz. en.
13. Web site: Q+A Colmar Brunton Auckland Central poll .
14. Web site: Auckland Central electorate race narrowing, Q+A Colmar Brunton poll reveals .
15. Web site: 6 November 2020. 2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result. 6 November 2020. Electoral Commission.
16. Web site: Amendment to the Register of Political Parties . New Zealand Electoral Commission . 21 September 2022 . 5 October 2022.
17. Web site: Electorate candidates . 16 September 2023 . Vote NZ . en-NZ.