NZ opposition leader admits to fundamentalist contacts
{{date|September 12, 2005}}
[[Image:DonBrash.png|left|thumb|Don Brash]]
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[[w:Don Brash|Don Brash]], leader of the opposition [[w:New Zealand National Party|National Party]] in [[w:New Zealand|New Zealand]], admitted that he was aware that members of the [[w:Exclusive Brethren|Exclusive Brethren]] church were going to release contentious brochures attacking his political rivals. Mr Brash said he had met members of the church a number of times. He has admitted today that he was aware of the group's intention to publish brochures that were critical of the [[w:New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] and [[w:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|The Greens]]. A spokesman for the Group admitted to having spent NZ$500,000 on the campaign so far.

The pamphlets were published without the link to the Church being obvious. However, former members of the Church identified the men as belonging to the church which has been described as a sect. The Exclusive Brethren are a closed order. Its members are not allowed to listen to Radio, Television or use computers at all. There are approximately 2000 members in New Zealand and active branches in the US and Australia. They are linked to political support for [[w:George Bush|George Bush]] and other conservative politicians.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3404366a10,00.html
|title=Brash accused of lies over Brethren pamphlet
|author=
|pub=Stuff.co.nz
|date=September 9, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/18/State/Veiled_sect_hails_Bus.shtml
|title=Veiled sect hails Bush, Martinez
|author=
|pub=sptimes.com
|date=January 18, 2005}}

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[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Don Brash]]

[[ja:ニュージーランド国民党ブラッシュ党首、キリスト教原理主義者との関係を認める]]
Don Brash

 'The New Zealand General Election'

New Zealand

 'Preliminary Election Results':

 'Other Wikinews election coverage':

category=New Zealand
category=Elections
count=10


 'Background':

 Wikipedia

 Wikipedia, Wikinews' sibling project, has in-depth background articles on:

 
* Political parties in New Zealand
* New Zealand House of Representatives
* Politics of New Zealand
* Mixed Member Proportional voting system
* Previous New Zealand General Elections

Don Brash, leader of the opposition National Party in New Zealand, admitted that he was aware that members of the Exclusive Brethren church were going to release contentious brochures attacking his political rivals. Mr Brash said he had met members of the church a number of times. He has admitted today that he was aware of the group's intention to publish brochures that were critical of the Labour Party and The Greens. A spokesman for the Group admitted to having spent NZ$500,000 on the campaign so far.

The pamphlets were published without the link to the Church being obvious. However, former members of the Church identified the men as belonging to the church which has been described as a sect. The Exclusive Brethren are a closed order. Its members are not allowed to listen to Radio, Television or use computers at all. There are approximately 2000 members in New Zealand and active branches in the US and Australia. They are linked to political support for George Bush and other conservative politicians.
Oceania New Zealand Politics and conflicts Elections Don Brash