New party plays race card

Tom Johnson. Photo / Duncan Brown

A new political party which wants to strip Maori of race-based privileges has made mass leaflet drops in Tauranga, Napier, Hastings and Orewa.

The 1 Law 4 All party's policies include abolishing the Treaty of Waitangi, ending "co-governance agreements", and axing race-based seats and posts in central and local government.

Napier man Tom Johnson has fronted the party since it started in June and said an Auckland office had opened in Mt Eden.

The party had nearly 1,000 members and was applying for registration.

"Our focus has only been on two areas to get started - Hawkes Bay and Tauranga," Johnson said. "We are now in the process of replicating that in other areas ... I think it will grow rapidly."

Victoria University professor of comparative politics Jack Vowles said the party was another entrant in a crowded field.

"The Conservative Party, New Zealand First, Libertarianz - they all have similar positions but they just haven't put them to the forefront to the degree these people have," he said.