Destiny NZ is child of Christian beliefs

Destiny leader Richard Lewis is standing in the Manukau East seat. Picture / Nigel Marple

The Act Party weekly newsletter The Letter is usually scathing of opponents, but two weeks ago it reported that Destiny New Zealand candidates were well prepared and impressive.

The praise from such an unlikely source did not go unnoticed by Destiny NZ leader Richard Lewis.

"That's no small thing," he said. "As centre-right parties we are effectively honing in on the same voters."

The party shares its name with the Destiny Church and many of its candidates are members of the church, but in an attempt to appeal to the wider Christian vote it has been keen to portray itself as independent and as more mainstream than the church.

Only one of the party's 42 candidates has ever stood as a candidate before. Piako candidate Colin Ranby stood for Christian Heritage.

Mr Lewis says he is well aware of the difficulty a new party faces.

"History tells us it is almost impossible for a first-time contender ... to get the result they are looking for at the first election."

But he believes New Zealanders, especially the conservative Christian community, are fed up with the "anti-family" approach of the Labour Government and are looking for a change.

"Destiny NZ is the only political party that will restore strength to the inter-generational family based on our commitment to the institute of marriage."

The seats of Manukau East, where Mr Lewis is standing, and Mangere, where Edward Saafi is standing, are thought to be the party's best chances.

DESTINY NZ

Leader: Richard Lewis
Electorate candidates: Standing in 39 electorates, including all 7 Maori seats.
List candidates: Three list-only candidates.
First election: 2005.
High: Registering in national surveys such as Herald-DigiPoll and One News-Colmar Brunton. Destiny is polling at about 1 per cent and is the highest-rating party outside Parliament.
Low: Being excluded from the candidates debate on TVNZ's Marae programme.
Genesis: Born from the Destiny Church, the party was formed in July 2003 to counter what it terms the "moral demise" of society.
Philosophy: All the party's policies are based on the principle that "the family is the cornerstone of society and marriage is the cornerstone of the family".
How much free broadcast time: One 60-second opening address.

Key policies
Protect the "institution of marriage" and limit it to between a man and a woman.
Repeal the Civil Union Act.
Tax credits in the form of "marriage milestones" for fixed terms of unbroken marriage, i.e. years 5, 10, 15 and 20.
Greater financial support for full-time mothers.
Allow income splitting for married couples for tax purposes.