NewsTalk ZB 17 May 2019
Family First Comment: “… the coalition Government in office is pushing a number of controversial issues, like liberalising abortion, marijuana, gender ideology in schools, euthanasia and Jacinda Ardern’s condemnation of Israel Folau which he says doesn’t sit well with the Pacific community…”

The coalition lifeline that National will need if it’s to have a chance at the next election looks set to come in the form of a Christian party led by one of its own, former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro.

Talk within the party’s been rife for weeks now with Ngaro’s plan being well received and with the possibility of National standing aside, possibly in the Botany seat, where it has the strongest party vote by far.

The seat’s currently held by rebel independent MP Jami-Lee Ross who himself can’t take credit for the party vote. It was entrenched when the electorate came on to the political map in 2008 when it was won by Pansy Wong who, like the ignominious departure of Ross, also left in a blaze of publicity in 2011 over the misuse of Parliamentary travel expenses.

There’s a lot of Christian money in the electorate. It has a good number of Pacific Island churches in Otara to the west, a sizeable, conservative, Christian South African community and a significant number of Koreans and Taiwanese Christians.

Family First’s Bob McCoskrie has shared a podium with Ngaro on a number of occasions, as recently as this week. He says there’s definitely a gap in the choice facing the voter wanting to cast their ballot for a morally conservative party.

McCoskrie says the coalition Government in office is pushing a number of controversial issues, like liberalising abortion, marijuana, gender ideology in schools, euthanasia and Jacinda Ardern’s condemnation of Israel Folau which he says doesn’t sit well with the Pacific community.

As for National standing aside in Botany, he says the choice for the voters there is clear.

“If they can understand the bigger picture, and understand if they want a centre right government they may need to hold their noses and vote for a candidate who they normally wouldn’t vote for. They will vote because they know that the party that candidate represents will go into coalition with National and get them across the line.”

If Ngaro managed to pull it off and win in Botany and scraped up 3 per cent of the party vote he could expect another three seats in Parliament. In the first MMP election the Christian Coalition got 4.6 per cent of the vote and in 2014 Colin Craig’s Conservatives got just on 4 per cent before it crashed and burned on the eve of the ballot after his press secretary Rachel McGregor resigned.

McCoskrie says there’s definitely a constituency out there looking for a party that Ngaro could represent and National certainly needs a lifeline.
READ MORE: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/barry-soper-national-needs-friends-is-alfred-ngaro-the-answer/

Alfred Ngaro to set up Christian conservative party – report
NewsHub 17 May 2019 
Judith Collins says she wasn’t aware of rumours her colleague Alfred Ngaro might be quitting the party to form his own.

NZME reported on Friday the former Cabinet minister is planning to lead a new Christian conservative party, potentially providing National with another coalition partner at next year’s election.

The plan works like this: National won’t run a candidate in the Botany electorate, currently held by rogue former National MP Jami-Lee Ross. Instead they’d encourage voters to give Ngaro the tick, in much the same way they currently prop up ACT in Epsom.

“We do get MMP,” Collins told The AM Show on Friday, saying it’s the first she’s heard of the alleged plan. “We’ve got MMP around Epsom for instance, over the years. There’s a lot of rumour and speculation, but look – I’d say it’s an interesting idea.”

Ngaro reportedly has one high-profile Conservative firebrand on his side – Family First director Bob McCoskrie, who told NZME there’s a gap in the market for a Christian party, citing unease over changes to legislation around euthanasia, cannabis and abortion, as well as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s condemnation of homophobic rugby star Israel Folau.
READ MORE: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/alfred-ngaro-to-set-up-christian-conservative-party-report.html

Could a Christian party be National’s saviour?
Otago Daily Times 17 May 2019
The coalition lifeline that National will need if it’s to have a chance at the next election looks set to come in the form of a Christian party led by one of its own, former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro.

Talk within the party’s been rife for weeks now with Ngaro’s plan being well received and with the possibility of National standing aside, possibly in the Botany seat, where it has the strongest party vote by far.

The seat’s currently held by rebel independent MP Jami-Lee Ross who himself can’t take credit for the party vote. It was entrenched when the electorate came on to the political map in 2008 when it was won by Pansy Wong who, like the ignominious departure of Ross, also left in a blaze of publicity in 2011 over the misuse of Parliamentary travel expenses.

Family First’s Bob McCoskrie has shared a podium with Ngaro on a number of occasions, as recently as this week. He says there’s definitely a gap in the choice facing the voter wanting to cast their ballot for a morally conservative party.

McCoskrie says the coalition Government in office is pushing a number of controversial issues, like liberalising abortion, marijuana, gender ideology in schools, euthanasia and Jacinda Ardern’s condemnation of Israel Folau which he says doesn’t sit well with the Pacific community.

As for National standing aside in Botany, he says the choice for the voters there is clear.

“If they can understand the bigger picture, and understand if they want a centre right government they may need to hold their noses and vote for a candidate who they normally wouldn’t vote for. They will vote because they know that the party that candidate represents will go into coalition with National and get them across the line.”
READ MORE: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/could-christian-party-be-nationals-saviour 

National needs friends … Is former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro the answer?
NZ Herald 17 May 2019 
The coalition lifeline that National will need if it’s to have a chance at the next election looks set to come in the form of a Christian party led by one of its own, former Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro.

Talk within the party’s been rife for weeks now with Ngaro’s plan being well received and with the possibility of National standing aside, possibly in the Botany seat, where it has the strongest party vote by far.

The seat’s currently held by rebel independent MP Jami-Lee Ross who himself can’t take credit for the party vote. It was entrenched when the electorate came on to the political map in 2008 when it was won by Pansy Wong who, like the ignominious departure of Ross, also left in a blaze of publicity in 2011 over the misuse of Parliamentary travel expenses.

Family First’s Bob McCoskrie has shared a podium with Ngaro on a number of occasions, as recently as this week. He says there’s definitely a gap in the choice facing the voter wanting to cast their ballot for a morally conservative party.
READ MORE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12231733