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This article is about the party founded in 2011. For the party of the 1990s, see New Zealand Conservative Party.

Conservative Party of New Zealand
LeaderBoard
PresidentNone
Secretary-GeneralKevin Stitt
FounderColin Craig
Founded3 August 2011
Preceded byNone
NewspaperConversation
Student wingYoung Conservatives
Membership10,000+ [1]
IdeologyConservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Social conservatism
Political positionRight-wing
International affiliationNone
ColoursLight blue
MPs in the House of Representatives
0 / 121
Auckland Local Board Members
2 / 146
Website
http://www.conservativeparty.org.nz/
www.conservativeparty.org.nz

The Conservative Party of New Zealand is a fiscally and socially conservative political party in New Zealand. It was founded in August 2011 by businessman and political activist Colin Craig, who led the party from its foundation until his resignation, on 19 June 2015, on the grounds of "inappropriate conduct" and to contest an internal election.[2] It contested the 2011 and 2014 general elections, without winning any seats. It holds two seats on Auckland Local Boards. It is being managed by an elected board.

Philosophy and policies

The Conservative Party advocates fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, and the use of binding referenda.[3]

Policies include:

Organisation

The Conservative Party is currently governed by a six-member board that also elects the party's leader. In June 2015, most of the previous board members resigned in anticipation of a party leadership vote scheduled for 27 June.[10][11][12] By 4 July 2015, all original board members, including the Party Leader Colin Craig, had resigned from the board. A provisional board was formed consisting of former electoral candidates, Deborah Cunliffe, Mark Pearce, Paddy O'Rourke, and Al Belcher. This was short lived as John Stringer, who was instrumental in forming this board as its chairman, had his membership suspended by the previous board and was acting unlawfully according to the constitution. The provisional board, sans Stringer, deemed it had been illegally formed so unanimously decided to dissolve itself.

History

Formation

Colin Craig had stood in the 2010 Auckland mayoral election, where he polled third (with about 8.7% of the vote) behind Len Brown and John Banks.[13] He announced the formation of the Conservative Party on 3 August 2011[14] at a media event in Newmarket, Auckland.[15][16] It gained the 500 members required for registration within a month of its founding,[17] and the Electoral Commission registered it on 6 October 2011, allowing it to contest the party vote in the 2011 general election.[18] Its party logo was registered at the same time.[19]

While the Conservative Party is not overtly Christian, many leading members of the Kiwi Party joined it, indicated by the change in colour here.

2011 election

The Conservatives contested the November 2011 general election. Craig stood in the Rodney electorate.[20] In October 2011 they announced electoral alliances with The Kiwi Party and New Citizen Party, in which their candidates stood instead as Conservatives.[21][22] The party ran a list of 52 candidates, including Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock and former New Citizen Botany candidate Paul Young.[23]

During the campaign the party portrayed itself as able to work with either of the two main parties, National and Labour.[24] It highlighted its socially conservative policies of raising the drinking age to 21, parental notification for abortions, and repeal of the "anti-smacking" law.[24] It announced its opposition to National's policy of selling state assets.[24]

The party gained 2.65% of the party vote (59,237 votes), but failed to win any seats in Parliament.[25] Craig came second in Rodney, gaining 8,031 votes – 12,222 votes behind first-time National Party candidate Mark Mitchell.[26] The party spent NZ$1.88 million on its campaign, the second-highest of any party,[27] with most of the money coming from Craig himself.[28]

Following the election, Conservative candidates Larry Baldock and Peter Redman were referred to police for filing false expenses returns and for exceeding the $25,000 cap on election expenses.[29] Colin Craig stated that if the Police found any impropriety neither Larry Baldock nor Peter Redman would be allowed to stand as Conservative candidates.[30] The police subsequently declined to lay charges in the matter.[citation needed]

2011 to 2014

In May 2013, the party appointed high profile former Work and Income New Zealand chief executive Christine Rankin as its chief executive.[31] The party contested the 2013 Christchurch East by-election; candidate Leighton Baker polled 487 votes (or 3.65%) in the preliminary count.[32] The party also contested the 2013 local elections, fielding 27 candidates in Auckland.[33][34] The party gained 50,218 votes overall, and two candidates (Christine Rankin and Callum Blair) were elected to the Upper Harbour Local Board.[35]

In February 2014, the-then Green Party co-leader Russel Norman alleged that Colin Craig held misogynistic and homophobic attitudes during a speech at the Big Gay Out event in Auckland. Norman's comments prompted Craig to file a defamation suit and to demand that Norman issue an apology. In response, Norman and the Green Party announced that they would contest the lawsuit.[36] On 10 October 2014, following the 2014 general election, the parties settled the lawsuit out of court and agreed to bear their own legal expenses.[37]

2014 election

In November 2013 speculation arose in the New Zealand news media[38] about a possible electoral accommodation between the Conservatives and the National Party for the 2014 general election. This followed comments by Prime Minister and National Party leader John Key that appeared to hold out the possibility of the Conservatives becoming a coalition partner for National following the election. Speculation suggested that the National Party might not run a candidate in a constituency on Auckland's North Shore, such as Rodney, or East Coast Bays.[39] The Electoral Commission announced on 21 November 2013 the proposed formation of a new electorate on the North Shore named Upper Harbour.[40] Senior National Cabinet Minister Paula Bennett announced her intention to stand in the new electorate. Nevertheless, speculation continued that National MP Murray McCully might vacate his East Coast Bays seat to become a list-only MP, giving Colin Craig a chance to win the seat. If Craig won an electorate, the Conservatives would not need to pass the 5% threshold for representation in the New Zealand parliament, potentially allowing one or more Conservative Party list MPs into the House of Representatives. However, McCully confirmed that he would stand in East Coast Bays as its incumbent National Party electorate MP. After some indecision,[41] Craig also elected to stand in the East Coast Bays electorate.[42] John Key announced on 28 July 2014 that McCully would not step aside to assist the Conservatives into parliament, nor would National urge its members to vote for Craig, thus ending speculation about an electoral deal in East Coast Bays.[43]

On 3 August 2014 Colin Craig announced that party chief executive Christine Rankin would stand in the Epsom electorate.[44] On 7 August 2014 the party announced that Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar would stand,[45] and later announced that this would be in the Napier electorate. On 13 September a TVNZ Colmar Brunton Poll showed McVicar polling 22% in the Napier electorate, behind Labour and National candidates.[46] National Party leader John Key ruled out endorsing McVicar.[47]

The Conservative Party announced the top five positions for its party list on 22 August 2014. The top five were leader (1) Colin Craig, (2) Epsom candidate Christine Rankin, (3) Garth McVicar (4) Melissa Perkin (5) Mangere candidate Edward Saafi.[48]

The party reached 4.6% in a 3 News Reid Research poll released in late August 2014, suggesting that it might break the 5% threshold.[49][50] However, on 20 September 2014, the Conservatives polled 3.97%, not enough to enter Parliament without also winning an electorate seat.[51]

On 1 August 2014 Colin Craig revealed that China-based firm Shanghai Pengxin was purchasing Lochinver Station, a large dairy farm, and said that the Conservatives were opposed to the deal.[8] Craig won a High Court injunction on 8 August 2014 to prevent TV3 from excluding him from a minor leader's debate that was to have included lower polling parties such as ACT New Zealand and United Future. The televised debate included the Conservative Party leader.[52]

The Electoral Commission awarded the Conservatives $60,000 in advertising funding for the 2014 general election, three times the $20,800 allocation it made to the Conservatives in 2011.[53] Shortly before the general election, the party's press secretary Rachel MacGregor resigned, citing Colin Craig's alleged manipulative behaviour.[54] During the 2014 general election, the Conservative Party received 3.98% of the party vote but won no seats in Parliament; political parties need to attain 5% in order to enter Parliament under New Zealand's Mixed-member proportional system.[55]

2015 resignations of leader and board members

On 19 June 2015, the Conservative Party's leader Colin Craig resigned. Board members had scheduled a meeting for that day to discuss the leadership as it was felt that Craig's participation in a recent television interview had reflected badly on the party. Dissatisfaction had also been expressed over Craig's demeanour toward the party's former press secretary Rachel MacGregor, who had resigned just before the 2014 general election. Dissatisfaction increased when Craig pre-emptively and perhaps unconstitutionally postponed the meeting for a week in order to announce his resignation.[56][57][58] Craig later announced that he will consider contesting the party's leadership if he has enough support.[59] On 21 June, the New Zealand Herald reported that Craig had settled the dispute with MacGregor for around NZ$16,000 to NZ$17,000 eight weeks earlier.[60]

The television channel One News also reported that there was a disagreement between Craig and several Conservative Party board members. One member, John Stringer, accused Craig of not following the party's constitution. In response, Craig denied the allegation and threatened to take action against Stringer. The Chairman of the Board stated that Stringer's views did not reflect the view of the Conservative Party and that his comments were only his opinion.[61]

During a media conference held on 22 June 2015, Craig admitted that he had "acted inappropriately" toward his press secretary Rachel MacGregor but denied any charge of sexual harassment. In response, MacGregor said that by making the admission, Craig had breached a confidentiality agreement the pair had reached under Human Rights Commission mediation and she disputed his account of the events. Craig's wife Helen Craig also announced that she was standing by her husband and characterized the charges against him as "false allegations."[62][63] According to the Herald, several board members of the Conservative Party including John Stringer, Christine Rankin, and Laurence Day indicated support for a change of leadership. A board meeting was scheduled for 27 June 2015 and Day called for Craig to be expelled from the party. Rankin and two other party members, Sensible Sentencing Trust leader Garth McVicar and Family First founder Bob McCoskrie, ruled out contesting the Conservative Party's leadership.[10]

During the week that immediately followed Colin Craig's resignation, all remaining members of the board, with the exception of John Stringer, resigned. On 27 June 2015, at the scheduled board meeting, Stringer appointed a new board consisting of himself as chairman and four new members. This board voted to suspend Craig's membership in the Conservative Party. Stringer said that a final decision about Craig's membership and the appointment of a new leader would be made at a later date.[64] According to One News, Craig later challenged the legality of Stringer's and the board's actions, claiming that Stringer had been suspended from the party. He did not rule out contesting the Conservative Party's leadership. Craig's remarks were dismissed by Stringer, who became the party's interim leader.[65]

On 5 July 2015, John Stringer resigned his positions as chairman and board member in the wake of the statements that he had been suspended from the party and was therefore not entitled to hold the positions. According to the New Zealand Herald, a statement by former chairman Brian Dobbs that Stringer had been suspended meant that the decision by the interim board to suspend Colin Craig's membership was invalid.[66] On 7 July, Craig also sent a personal letter to Conservative Party members to apologise for his behaviour and to gauge whether he had sufficient support to return to the party's leadership.[1][67] On 26 July 2015, the New Zealand Herald reported that a 3News-Reid Research poll had found support for the party to be only 0.7 per cent, the lowest it has polled since just before the 2011 General Election.[68]

On 29 July 2015, Craig embarked on a lawsuit against several opponents including the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union's executive director Jordan Williams, fellow party member John Stringer, and the right wing blogger Cameron Slater for alleged defamation. Craig also circulated a booklet, titled Dirty Politics and Hidden Agendas, in which he outlined a "campaign of defamatory lies" against him.[69][70]

On 10 August 2015, John Stringer responded by lodging a complaint against Colin Craig with the New Zealand Police, alleging that Craig had exceeded his allocated election fund legal limit by NZ$2,000 when contesting the East Coast Bays electorate in 2014. A police investigation subsequently cleared Craig of any wrongdoing.[citation needed] In addition, Stringer criticized Craig's management of the Conservative Party's 2014 election campaign.[71] The following day, Stringer submitted a dossier of documents to both the police and the New Zealand Electoral Commission.[72] On 14 August 2015, Jordan Williams launched a counter-suit against Colin Craig and several Conservative Party officials in response to Craig's statements at the July press conference and in the circular Dirty Politics and Hidden Agendas.[73] On 11 September 2015, Colin Craig filed a retaliatory defamation suit against the Party's former chairman, John Stringer. Stringer has indicated that he would contest these charges in court.[74]

On 16 November 2015, Craig announced that he would not be contesting the Conservative Party leadership in light of a police investigation against him over his party's spending during the 2014 general election. Craig also cited the ongoing lawsuits involving him, Cameron Slater, and John Stringer as other reasons for his decision not to contest the party leadership.[75] In addition, the newly-elected Conservative Party board chair Leighton Baker indicated that the party was "in no hurry" to appoint a new leadership until it had rebuilt its membership base.[76]

On 19 January 2016, Colin Craig donated NZ$36,000 to the Conservative Party. Despite his lack of involvement with the leadership, he stated that he and his wife still wanted to support the party financially.[77] On 2 February 2016, the Conservative Party's board validated the decision of the previous board to suspend John Stringer's membership. The suspension was part of an ongoing internal conflict within the party between Mr Stringer and the former Conservative leader Craig.[78] On 1 March 2016, it was reported that Stringer had dropped his defamation suit against Craig and was seeking legal advice to ensure that his statement of defence complied with court rules for defamation cases. However, Craig's lawsuit against Stringer and Jordan Williams' lawsuit against Craig remains ongoing.[79]

Election results

House of Representatives

Election Candidates nominated Seats won Votes Vote share % Position[A] Conservatives in
government?
Electorate List
2011 52 30
0 / 121
 59,237 2.65% 9th Not in Parliament
2014 64 20
0 / 121
 95,598 3.97% 7th Not in Parliament

Auckland local boards

Auckland local boards
Election year Candidates # of total votes # of seats won
2013 27/146 67,106
2 / 146

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Colin Craig asks for forgiveness". Otago Daily Times. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Conservative Party's Colin Craig stands down, 19/6/2015
  3. ^ a b "Principles". Conservative Party of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b Rebecca Savory (8 August 2014). "Craig reveals two candidates". Bay of Plenty Times. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  5. ^ Isaac Davison (19 July 2014). "Colin Craig reveals Conservative Party's bottom line". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  6. ^ Audrey Young (13 December 2013). "Conservatives would seek repeal of anti-smacking law, says Craig". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  7. ^ http://valueyourvote.org.nz/2014-general-election/
  8. ^ a b Isaac Davison (1 August 2014). "Crafar farms buyers in new $70 million land deal". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  9. ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11318886
  10. ^ a b Davison, Isaac (22 June 2015). "Calls for Colin Craig's party membership to be cancelled". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  11. ^ Jones, Nicholas (22 June 2015). "Conservative Party strife could benefit National - Key". New Zealand Herald.
  12. ^ Kirk, Stacey (24 June 2015). "Conservative Party board dwindling, while Colin Craig refuses to admit defeat". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  13. ^ Craig received 42,598 votes behind Len Brown (237,487 votes) and John Banks (171,542 votes): "Mayor (1) final results". Auckland Council. Auckland Council. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Colin Craig announces new Conservative Party". The New Zealand Herald. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Colin Craig launches Conservative Party of NZ". 3 News NZ. 3 August 2011.
  16. ^ "New Conservative Party for next election". NZ Herald. 3 August 2013.
  17. ^ Bennett, Adam (30 August 2011). "New party in time for election". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  18. ^ "Registration of Conservative Party". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  19. ^ "Registration of Conservative Party logo". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Colin Craig won't go up against John Banks". The New Zealand Herald. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  21. ^ "No Kiwi Party candidates in this year's election". The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  22. ^ Danya Levy (18 October 2011). "New Citizens Party joins with Conservatives". Stuff. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Conservative list released". Press Release: Conservative Party (via Scoop.co.nz). 1 November 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  24. ^ a b c "Conservative Party still working on major policies". The New Zealand Herald. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  25. ^ "Official count results -- overall status". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  26. ^ "Official count results -- Rodney". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  27. ^ Young, Audrey (24 March 2012). "Conservatives got least bang for buck". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  28. ^ "Election 2011: Craig spends $1 million to push his new party's plans". New Zealand Herald. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  29. ^ "Referral to the Police 16 April 2013". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  30. ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10877955
  31. ^ "Conservative Party's new CEO Christine Rankin". Conservative Party. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  32. ^ "Christchurch East By-election Preliminary Vote Results". Electoral Commission. 30 November 2013.
  33. ^ "Local boards final results" (PDF). Auckland Council. 17 October 2013.
  34. ^ "Conservative Party to contest Auckland elections". Radio New Zealand. 7 August 2013.
  35. ^ "Auckland Council - Upper Harbour Local Board". Local Government Online. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  36. ^ Davison, Isaac (4 March 2015). "Colin Craig to limit his defamation claim". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Wong, Simon (10 October 2014). "Colin Craig drops defamation case against Russel Norman". 3 News. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  38. ^ Edwards, Bryce (27 November 2013). "Bryce Edwards: Political roundup: Winning at the 2014 general election". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  39. ^ Hooton, Matthew (22 November 2013). "National Must Gift East Coast Bays to Colin Craig". Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  40. ^ "Changes Proposed to Electorate Boundaries". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  41. ^ "Colin Craig undecided on electorate". 3 News. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  42. ^ Bennett, Adam (22 June 2014). "Colin Craig to contest McCully for East Coast Bays seat". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland: APN New Zealand Limited. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 July 2014. Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has confirmed he will contest Murray McCully's East Coast Bays seat in the September election.
  43. ^ Derek Cheng, Claire Trevett (28 July 2014). "PM: No clear run for Conservatives". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  44. ^ Derek Cheng (3 August 2014). "Christine Rankin to stand for Conservatives in Epsom". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  45. ^ Isaac Davison (7 August 2014). "Garth McVicar to stand for Conservative Party". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  46. ^ "Labour's Nash in the lead: poll". Hawke's Bay Today. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  47. ^ Trevett, Claire (13 September 2014). "Key rules out last minute deal in Napier". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  48. ^ Stacey Kirk (22 August 2014). "Conservative Party list 'balanced'". Stuff. Retrieved 28 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ "Conservatives close to Parliament in new poll". 3 News. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  50. ^ Derek Cheng (27 August 2014). "National, Labour fall, minor parties rise in poll". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  51. ^ "Election Results 2014". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  52. ^ Rob Kidd (8 August 2014). "Colin Craig wins court scrap over TV3 debate". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  53. ^ "Advertising funding down for Nats, Labour; up for Greens, NZ First". New Zealand Herald. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  54. ^ Dougan, Patrick (18 September 2014). "Colin Craig's press secretary quits, reportedly calls him a 'manipulative man'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  55. ^ Sincock, Taylor (20 September 2014). "Craig: Next election will be the one". 3 News. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  56. ^ Farrier, David (9 June 2015). "The Sauna Session That May Bring Down Colin Craig". 3 News. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  57. ^ Young, Audrey (19 June 2015). "Colin Craig could face the chop after TV antics". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  58. ^ Kirk, Stacey (19 June 2015). "Conservative faction to block Colin Craig's return as leader". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  59. ^ Watkins, Tracey (21 June 2015). "Colin Craig off to lawyers, would consider a Conservative Party comeback". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  60. ^ Bilbey, Lynley (21 July 2015). "Colin Craig entangled in money dispute". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  61. ^ "Colin Craig claims evidence of allegations withheld by Conservative Party". One News. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  62. ^ "Colin Craig admits 'inappropriate' conduct". Stuff.co.nz. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  63. ^ "'Factual inaccuracies' - former press secretary speaks out after Colin Craig denies allegations". One News. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  64. ^ "Colin Craig's membership suspended".
  65. ^ "Colin Craig has Conservative Party membership suspended". One News. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  66. ^ "Conservative Party battle draws to a close". The New Zealand Herald, Auckland, New Zealand. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  67. ^ Kirk, Stacey (7 July 1025). "Colin Craig asks forgiveness and puts his political future to a ballot". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  68. ^ "Conservative Party support plunges to all-time low". The New Zealand Herald, Auckland, NZ. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  69. ^ Miller, Corazon; Davison, Isaac (29 July 2015). "Colin Craig sues 'dirty politics brigade'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  70. ^ Craig, Colin (2015). "Dirty Politics and Hidden Agendas" (PDF) (Press release). Auckland: Colin and Helen Craig. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  71. ^ Hutching, Chris (9 August 2015). "Stringer reveals allegations he has taken to the police". National Business Review. Retrieved 11 August 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  72. ^ Wilson, Peter; Robson, Sarah (11 August 2015). "Colin Craig documents given to police". 3 News. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  73. ^ Jones, Nicholas (14 August 2015). "Legal action taken against Colin Craig". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  74. ^ "Colin Craig files defamation suit". Radio New Zealand News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  75. ^ Davidson, Isaac (16 November 2015). "Colin Craig won't seek re-election". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  76. ^ Kirk, Stacey (16 November 2015). "Colin Craig not seeking re-election as Conservative Party leader". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  77. ^ Sachdeva, Sam (19 February 2016). "Colin Craig donates $36,000 to Conservative Party after resigning as leader". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  78. ^ Marwick, Felix (2 February 2016). "Stringer's Conservative Party suspension confirmed". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  79. ^ Van Breynen, Martin (2 March 2016). "John Stringer dumps claim against Colin Craig in Christchurch defamation action". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
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