Capill frustrated as Christian rivals ascend

By HELEN TUNNAH

Christian Heritage leader Graham Capill admits to a feeling of frustration as his Christian rivals United Future soar in the polls.

Although not a fully fledged "Christian" party, Peter Dunne's United Future has strong Christian links, and stems in part from the Christian parties Future New Zealand and the Christian Democrats.

After a solid performance on a television debate, Mr Dunne's party has jumped from around 1 per cent to 6.6 per cent in this week's Herald-Digi snap poll, meaning they could get up to eight MPs elected.

Christian Heritage, languishing around 1 to 2 per cent in polling, is pinning its hopes on the former head of Women's Refuge Merepeka Raukawa-Tait winning the Wairarapa electorate and taking in an extra MP or two with her.

Mr Capill yesterday said United Future appeared to have adopted Christian Heritage policies "verbatim" on law and order.

He said it was a little frustrating watching United Future's ratings pick up on the back of a television performance the Christian Heritage was not part of.

"We were polling better than three of them at the start of the campaign, Progressive Coalition, the Alliance and United Future.

"The rest is history now."

Christian Heritage has this election tried to portray itself as a broader party with sensible economic and social policies.

Campaign director David Elliot predicted at the start of the campaign New Zealand was ready for a strong, conservative, economically sound party.

"You will not necessarily see Graham Capill talking about homosexuals or abortion in this campaign because New Zealanders know exactly where he stands.

"There's still a majority of New Zealanders out there who might have just about had a gutsful of the secular society that Helen Clark is promoting."

Christian Heritage yesterday issued its law and order policy, which focuses on reparation.

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