As several European nations grapple with sabotage,
violence and social unrest, New Zealand must not turn a
blind eye to the risk of similar tensions emerging
here.
Immigration must never come at the cost of our
national identity, social cohesion or the safety of our
communities.
I witnessed this threat to democratic
debate firsthand at a recent Christchurch East candidates’
debate, where I personally helped remove a pro-Palestine
disruptor after the Q&A session was hijacked. Candidates
and members of the public had been denied their rightful
opportunity to participate in a democratic process.
No
cause, no overseas conflict and no political grievance gives
anyone the right to silence New Zealanders, intimidate
others or hijack our democratic institutions. If you come to
New Zealand, respect our laws, our people and our way of
life. Do not bring overseas conflicts here and expect to
impose them on our communities.
We must protect and
preserve the cultural foundations of our nation, including
the Christian heritage and values that have helped shape New
Zealand’s institutions, traditions and sense of
responsibility. These foundations are part of our national
story and deserve to be respected, not dismissed or
undermined.
The principles of fairness, personal
responsibility, the rule of law and freedom under the law
are cornerstones of our legal system and our democratic
society. They must apply equally to everyone, regardless of
background or belief.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
New Zealand should welcome
newcomers who want to contribute to our country, become part
of our communities and respect the laws and values that hold
us together. But welcome must come with responsibility.
Anyone who commits serious offences, incites violence or
poses a genuine threat to public safety must be
deported.
The Conservative Party stands firmly for
national sovereignty, public safety, the rule of law and the
preservation of New Zealand’s cultural heritage. We will
not accept violence, intimidation or the deliberate
disruption of our democratic freedoms. Where individuals
meet the legal grounds for deportation, the law should be
applied firmly and consistently.
New Zealand must
remain a country where our laws are respected, our
democratic freedoms are protected and our people are free to
live without fear of imported conflict or intimidation. Take
your historic wars back where they came
from.
