New Zealand Young Nationals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Zealand Young Nationals are the youth wing of the New Zealand National Party a centre-right political party in New Zealand. It is a member of the International Young Democrat Union.
The National Party has had a youth section since its inception in 1936 and the name Young Nationals has been used since 1967. Young Nationals have always been a strong lobby group inside the National Party, and often at the forefront of policy development.
Often the more open minded and liberal views of the Young Nationals have been at odds with those of the Senior Party. The movement in party opinion in areas such as the nuclear ships debate, economic reform, liquor law reform, and anti-discrimination laws has often been led by the Young Nationals.
In 2006 the Young Nationals were forced to remove a picture of Helen Clark from their website. In the picture Ms Clark was dressed as Darth Vader saying "Luke, I am your lesbian father". The Young Nationals apologised to Ms Clark for the offence it caused her, and also to then leader Don Brash for causing harm to the Party image.
Contents |
[edit] Chairs
- 1974 - 77 Murray McCully
- 1977 - 78
- 1978 - 80 Martin Gummer
- 1980 - 81 Simon Upton
- 1981 - 82 Peter Kiely
- 1982 - 83 Stuart Boag
- 1983 - 84 Alistair Bell
- 1984 - 85 Mark Lowndes
- 1985 - 86 Phil O'Reilly
- 1986 - 87 Craig Allan
- 1987 - 89 Andrew Harvey
- 1989 - 90 Wayne P Marriott
- 1990 Bruce Alabaster
- 1990 - 91 Elaine Enright
- 1991 - 95 Shane Frith
- 1995 - 96 Sarah Borrell
- 1996 - 97 Mel Davis
- 1997 - 99 Tim Hurdle
- 1999 - 01 Daniel Gordon
- 2001 - 03 Grant Tyrrell
- 2003 - 05 Jamie Simpson
- 2005 - 06 Michael Mabbett
- 2006 - Matthew Patterson
[edit] Well Known Former Members
- Rt Hon Sir Robert Muldoon
- Rt Hon Sir John Marshall
- Hon Bill English
- Hon Ruth Richardson
- Rt Hon Winston Peters
- Rt Hon Simon Upton
- Hon Dr Nick Smith
- Hon Tony Ryall
- Hon Roger Sowry
- Michael Laws
- David Farrar - Life member
