Chinese-backed party launched in Botany

Jack Chen. Photo / Supplied

Botany is awash with political promises as the byelection campaign swings into action.

A group of Chinese immigrants, upset that no Chinese candidate has been put forward by the main parties, will today launch a well-financed New Citizen Party campaign.

Party co-founder Stephen Ching, a former Labour candidate, said the party had powerful backers including the man who was behind the failed Crafar farm bid, Jack Chen.

"New Zealand has been a developed country for a long time," Ching said. "But it has fallen behind some newly developed Asian countries and faces a tough economic situation now."

New Citizen Party would bring new energy and opportunities to New Zealand.

Ching was forced to withdraw his name from a plum position on the Labour Party's 2005 election list after the Herald on Sunday revealed he had undisclosed convictions.

Eru Thompson, a political veteran of the Maori Party, has been hired by the New Citizen Party to manage its campaign for the March 5 byelection.

"One of the major reasons I'm working with them is that they are going to work with the Maori Party," Thompson said.

"Maori and Asians have always been minorities and we have never, ever had the power to make decision by ourselves."

Meanwhile, Phil Goff and candidate Michael Wood launched the Labour Party campaign yesterday, promising to repeal GST on fruit and vegetables.

Goff said he wasn't going to let the National stronghold stop him from "getting [Labour's] message across".