Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki is considering launching a political party, with an announcement possible next week.
Newshub can confirm the self-professed bishop is thinking about running for Parliament.
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"If we are going ahead, there will be a formal announcement next week," a spokesperson for Tamaki told Newshub.
It comes after he tweeted that he "might just launch a political party next week because whose dumb enough to vote for that mess (sic)" in response to an inquiry into bullying in Parliament.
In 2003, Destiny Church members started the Destiny New Zealand political party with Tamaki as its "spiritual adviser". It gained less than 1 percent of the vote in the 2005 election and was subsequently deregistered. Further attempts to set up Christian parties turned acrimonious and failed.
Back in February, Tamaki admitted starting a new political party "might be a good idea". But he told Newshub he wouldn't stand for election himself.
"Oh no, I can't lower myself to go down to that position with my high call."
If successful in forming a new party, it would likely put Tamaki in competition for votes with National List MP Alfred Ngaro, who is considering splitting from his party to set up a conservative Christian party.
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Speaking on Sunday, National leader Simon Bridges confirmed he's giving Ngaro "space" for these talks and said the establishment of a new religious party is an "alluring idea".
"He told me a month or two back he'd been approached by some people in relation to the idea of a Christian or values party," he said.
"We'll give him the time and the space to see what he does."
Bridges said there's a gap in the market presently for a Christian conservative party, noting "interesting character" Colin Craig's Conservative Party managed to get 4 percent in 2014, and the Christian Coalition - led by convicted paedophile Graham Capill - got 4.33 percent in 1996.
It's not clear if Ngaro would be starting his own party or joining the New Conservatives.
The New Conservatives - the party that formed from remaining Conservatives after Colin Craig left the party - told Newshub they will meet with Ngaro this week, but wouldn't confirm whether they would be discussing his move to them.
Newshub.
