Kyle Chapman

Kyle Chapman (born 27 April 1971) is a former national director of the New Zealand National Front (NZNF). He was also a candidate for Mayor of Christchurch, first for the National Front, and then for the National Democrats Party.

He was once convicted of fire-bombing a marae.

Personal life

Chapman was born in Taumarunui, New Zealand. He has said that he wanted to join the National Front from the age of 14, and that he was a skinhead during the 1980s and early 1990s. As a teenager he was a member of several skinhead gangs. He was the founding member of the New Zealand Hammerskins. Over his time as a Skinhead he made major contributions to the skinhead movement in New Zealand. Several organizations were formed with his help to build a national unity in the fractured and conflict filled subculture. As part of a clean slate in 1995, he confessed to a series of politically-motivated arson attacks between 1987 and 1992, primarily education buildings and homes of known sex offenders. He was reported as saying he "wanted to make amends for the actions he had done as an out of control youth"

He is a qualified social worker, and worked in Christchurch from 1993 to 1997, dealing with youths involved in street subcultures. He also served as the youth worker representative on the Safer Community Council in Christchurch from 1996 to 1997.

In May 2009 Chapman married Claire Clifford, a Mormon, but they separated in October of the same year, reportedly due to his failure to fulfill his promise of abandoning his involvement in white supremacy groups. Clifford has a child by Chapman.

Christchurch mayoralty

In 2004, he unsuccessfully contested the mayoralty of Christchurch, New Zealand, placing fifth out of 10 with 1.9 percent of the vote (1665 votes). In 2005, he resigned his high-profile role as the leader of the National Front. He said in interviews that his children were being shunned at school due to his activities. He also cited the harassment of left wing anti-NZNF groups as a factor in his departure. He has since been the tenth-ranked list candidate for the Direct Democracy Party.

He unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch mayoralty again in 2007, running this time under the National Democrats ticket.

Survive Club

Chapman is the founder and leader of the Survive Club, a survivalist group that denies being a militia and denies any racist ties despite the histories of some of its members.

Right Wing Resistance

As of 2009, Chapman is the leader of the "white pride" Right Wing Resistance (RWR) group, which he describes as his National Alliance's "street arm". Chapman reportedly knighted the members with a sword after they recited a pledge. The group's insignia is a skull over a Wolfsangel, with the notation, "NA 14". A posting on the Nationalist Alliance called the RWR the "largest Right-wing organisation Christchurch has ever seen". RWR members have engaged in street patrols in New Brighton with the stated purpose of preventing vandalism by "Polynesian youths". The mayor of Christchurch denounced their vigilante behavior. Its street patrols have included from 5 to 15 members, who shave their heads. In October 2009, Chapman organized a rally at the Wellington cenotaph.

European-only community plans

In January 2009 an email was sent out concerning Chapman’s plans to create a European-only "protected community" in North Canterbury. The email stated that his intention was to "build a unified mini state that we could build up in future to be a base for other like minded Europeans to come to from other dying countries." The email claimed the compound would have a school, accommodation, a meeting house for leaders, and a training area for sport fighting and survival training.

External links

• Sunday Star Times. National Front leader Chapman resigns for his kids, 29 May 2005.
• Interview with Jim Saleam, 28 February 2005
• http://www.surviveclub.org.nz
• http://kyle-chapman.blogspot.com