Genesis

He may be rich but he is generous. He donated his 50 million from Trademe to his charitable foundation.

Genesis

The Opportunities Party (TOP) is an unregistered political party in New Zealand. It was founded by philanthropist Gareth Morgan in November 2016.[1][2] The party supports "a prosperous, fair and equitable society", environmental sustainability, and the adoption of a written constitution.[3]

So, it seems to be about endeavouring to level a very wonky playing field and to address the manifold inequalities in our society. He is also very much about the environment.

If the majority of the populous does not think the mainstream parties need a good shake up and is happy with the status quo, then I guess this country has the ineffective, self serving government it deserves.

LoCarb

This wouldn't be the first time a NZ millionaire has started a party that upset the apple cart.

Bob Jones' "NZ Party" helped oust National in the 1980's

Only problem: it introduced Labour's dreaded Rogernomic's policies, and it's been mainly downhill since then.

If you haven't watched this before, you should.

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/in-...of-plenty-2002

A good background for all recent migrants.

Bo-Jangles

Maybe a step towards becoming the benevolent dictator.

Lets not forget that this is New Zealand and that anyone in possession of more money than they know what to do with has a 'family' trust to aid them in keeping monies away from the tax man.

The $50m from Trademe was afterall placed in the Morgan 'Family' Foundation of which his son and family would be the primary benefactor; I expect the original $50m remains largely intact and tied up in investments somewhere and is generating a reasonable income to provide funds for his ongoing benevolence.

SSky

Just what I was thinking lol. I def wouldn't vote for him!

Genesis

I guess it will be him, me and the other 200 that have thus far joined. Don't think there will be many more from what I can glean!!! I have never liked any main stream political party and this is something out of the ordinary.

Different values, different vision.

Clappy

So the one policy so far is a written constitution - which wouldn't be a bad thing and could be a step in a process to take the monarchy out of the system, but I am afraid that I remain a little bit sceptical that the whole programme could offer a better way to run the country and is no more than righteous-sounding aspirations at the moment.

I suppose that I will have to wait and see what the policies are before I can make a decision - they will be due in the 'coming months' according to the article I read on Stuff.co.nz.

Charismatic

You'd rather have a written constitution than a more fluid arrangement? It occurs to me that the idea of a fixed, unchanging constitution is very dated now. Almost anything I might think to enshrine in constitution is likely to look very dated in the future.

Justcol

Isn't a written Constitution what has led to all the Right to bear arms nonsense in the US

We also have the original written constitution, the one on ten stone tablets, which has
been causing havoc for millennia

Clappy

I don't think that is the cause and effect. France has a written constitution and i haven't been anywhere more civilised than there. Both France and the US are republics so have no place for a monarch hence the constitutions.

This could all be a red-herring anyway because I see on the Herald website today that his party now has 886 members as of Sunday afternoon but no policies - constitution or anything else.

Justcol

Speaks volumes about the type of person who will be attracted to this party.

Woodlea

I heard him on the radio and he said the policies would be out on 8th Dec. Some of the policies sounded good, a fairer tax system for one, he didn't mention cats but hopefully he still has the curfew on them up his sleeve - that would get my vote!!

Kotare

Sounds like 'mother and apple pie' policies - which usually means more spending and tax 'the rich' (who can depart when they wish) :-).

Woodlea

I didn't really hear it all, just caught the end of the interview, but think it was a flat rate tax - which would be awesome!

LoCarb

More government sending: sounds good to me.

Tax the rich who depart: do we need the unproductive wealthy who just use NZ as a nuclear bunker?