Independent MP Gordon Copeland says attempts to form a united Christian party have failed.
Mr Copeland today signalled he was definitely walking away from attempts to set up the party, which he said "was well intentioned, but ultimately unsuccessful".
The move has been widely expected since the so-called
united Christian vehicle hit the rocks last month after Mr Copeland claimed to be ambushed by Destiny Church Bishop Brian Tamaki.
Mr Tamaki announced the church was deregistering its political wing and that its leader Richard Lewis would be one of the new Christian party's co-leaders.
Mr Copeland announced he would be the other co-leader, but said Mr Tamaki had jumped the gun with his statements and he was not happy with Mr Lewis as a co-leader.
In a series of confused statements he then admitted he knew of and had agreed to a decision of the party's national council to appoint Mr Lewis as a co-leader, but he had lost trust in him after the premature announcements.
Mr Copeland had earlier suggested to several media outlets that he did not know what the Destiny press conference was about, but today he revealed he knew in precise detail - right down to the answers scripted for Mr Tamaki and Mr Lewis to likely reporters' questions.
"Careful planning went into that press conference including scripted answers to possible questions," he said in his regular newsletter.
"That was all agreed to."
However the Destiny leaders had diverged from that arrangement without informing him in advance.
Mr Copeland said he had hoped to launch the new Christian party with him as leader, former MP Larry Baldock as president and a board in place.
He had intended to bring Mr Lewis on as a co-leader "some months later".
Independent MP Taito Phillip Field has also been involved in the new party talks, but his formal involvement has been held up by his legal fight against police attempts to lay bribery and corruption charges against him.
- NZPA
