The Ban 1080 Party was a political party in New Zealand that opposed the use of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poison, which is widely used in New Zealand for controlling mammalian pests such as possums and rats.[2][3][4] The party was founded in 2014 by Bill Wallace and its co-leaders were Bill Wallace and Mike Downard.[5] The party was registered by the Electoral Commission in 2014[6] and deregistered in February 2018.[7]
Ban 1080 Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Bill Wallace and Mike Downard |
| Founder | Bill Wallace |
| Dissolved | 2018[1] |
| Ideology | Opposes the use of 1080 poison |
Policies
editThe Ban 1080 Party's stated policy was "to develop a pathway to a solution that includes the following elements:
- To immediately stop the Department of Conservation's controlled aerial 1080 poison programme.
- To develop a science-based, measurable programme that includes
- Species specific protection plans,
- Targeted pest control, using people not poison,
- Community conservation involvement.
- To protect all waterways by ensuring no future aerial poison drops."[8]
The party considered that the Department of Conservation "has an important task in working to protect and preserve our natural environment", but believes that aerial 1080 drops harm native species and are ineffective at controlling rat and stoat populations.[9]
History
edit2014 general election
editWallace founded the party in 2014.[2][10] It applied for registration with the Electoral Commission in mid-2014[11] and was approved on 8 August.[6] On 19 August 2014, the party announced a party list of nine candidates for the 2014 general election, of which five were also electorate candidates.[5]
The party received 0.21% of the party vote (4,368), below the 5% threshold, and did not win any electorates, so did not win any seats in Parliament. Of the electoral candidates, the most successful was Pete Salter, who stood in the West Coast-Tasman electorate. He received 2,318 electoral votes, which was 6.5% of electoral votes cast and placed him fourth.
Party officials were visited by police in 2015 during their investigation into threats to contaminate baby formula with 1080.[12] The threats were ultimately found to be unrelated to the party.[13]
2017 general election
editThe party nominated nine list candidates, including three electorate candidates, for the 2017 general election. Salter ran for the West Coast-Tasman seat again.[14] The party gained only 0.12% of the party vote (3,005) and failed to win any seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives,[15] causing the party to consider its future.[16]
Deregistration
editThe party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission at its own request on 28 February 2018.[7]
Electoral results
edit| Election | Candidates nominated | Seats won | Votes | Vote share % | Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electorate | List | |||||
| 2014 | 5 | 9 | 0 / 121
|
4,368 | 0.21% | Not in Parliament |
| 2017 | 3 | 9 | 0 / 120
|
3,005 | 0.12% | Not in Parliament |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Amendments to the Register of Political Parties – 28 February 2018". Electoral Commission. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Ban 1080 party in push for election". Stuff. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "1080 battle gets political". New Zealand Herald. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ Mills, Laura. "1080 political party proposed". Greymouth Star. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Ban 1080 Candidates announced for 2014 General Election". Ban 1080 Party. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Registration of Ban1080 and Logo". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Amendments to the Register of Political Parties – 28 February 2018". Electoral Commission. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Party Policy". Ban 1080. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Aerial 1080 drops need to stop". Ban 1080. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Nelson man plans an anti-1080 party". RNZ. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Application to Register Ban1080 Party". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ "Police visit anti-1080 party figures". Stuff. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "1080 blackmailer Jeremy Kerr jailed for eight and a half years". New Zealand Herald. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "West Coast-Tasman – Official Result". electionresults.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "2017 General Election – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Future of Ban 1080 Party in the balance after abysmal result at ballot box". New Zealand Herald. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2024.