Phoenix Party

The Phoenix Party was a short-lived left-wing political party in New Zealand.

It was founded by Gerald Williams, formerly an organiser for the Labour Party. During Norman Kirk's leadership of Labour (1965–1974), Williams came to disagree with a number of Labour Party policies, particularly over the policy of giving state funding to church schools. Believing that the Labour Party was becoming moribund, Williams founded the Phonenix Party. The name is an allusion to the mythical Phoenix, representing Williams' hope that the party would "rise from the ashes" of the Labour Party.

Williams was the party's only candidate, and attracted a certain number of protest votes. In the 1969 elections, he contested the Dunedin Central electorate, placing fourth (with 365 votes). He continued to criticise the Labour Party by means of satire. Williams later became a member of the Values Party, the world's first national-level environmentalist political party.

Historic political parties in New Zealand » Current parties »

MMP era registered parties (1996–present)	1Law4All Party 99 MP Advance NZ Animals First Asia Pacific United Bill and Ben Christian Coalition Christian Heritage The Civilian Party Conservative Destiny Direct Democracy Party Ethnic Minority The Family Party Family Rights Protection Party Focus NZ Freedom Movement Future NZ (ii) Green Society Internet Mana Kiwi Libertarianz McGillicuddy Serious Mana Māori Mauri Pacific Natural Law NMP One NZ Outdoor Recreation New Zealand Pacific Party People's Choice Progressive Progressive Greens Republican (ii) Republic of New Zealand Party Residents Action Movement South Island Superannuitants and Youth Te Tawharau United NZ Workers Party of New Zealand

Unregistered and pre-1996 era parties	Aotearoa NZ Youth Christian Democrats Communist Party Co-operative Country Democrat Democratic Labour Equal Values Freedom Party Future NZ (i) Hapu Imperial British Conservative Independent Political Labour League Join Australia Movement Labour (1910) Liberal (i) Liberal (ii) Liberal (iii) Liberal (iv) Mana Motuhake Mana Wahine National Democrats National Socialist NewLabour New Citizen New Democrats New Economics New Liberal Party New World Order New Zealand Party Nga Iwi Morehu No Commercial Airport at Whenuapai OurNZ Pakeha People's Movement Phoenix Pirate Piri Wiri Tua Radical Party Real Democracy Reform Reform New Zealand Representative Republican (i) Social Credit Social Democrats Socialists (i) Socialists (ii) Socialists (iii) Socialist Unity Sovereignty Thrive United Labour United (i) United (ii) Values Party WIN Party Workers' Party of New Zealand (1991) Women's Independence World Socialists Young New Zealand

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