Conservative Party NZ
Position: Socially conservative, economically right l Currently: Outside Parliament
Website: CONSERVATIVES.NZ| Political Party
What they stand for
The Conservative Party NZ occupies a space to the right of National on social issues, combining traditional Christian conservative values with right-wing economic positions. It stands firmly within the Judeo-Christian Western tradition and is deeply socially conservative on abortion, euthanasia, gender identity, and family structure
Abortion: Opposes abortion; introduce a 'personhood bill' recognising the right to life from conception; stop taxpayer funding of abortion; ban mailed-out abortion drugs; end school-based abortion referrals
Euthanasia: Repeal the End Life Choice Act; prioritise palliative care funding instead
Gender: 'A man is a man, and a woman is a woman'; oppose gender transition surgery funding; remove 'gender ideology' from schools; support single-sex spaces
Free Speech: Defend freedom of speech and assembly; oppose hate speech legislation
Economy: Lower taxes; reduce government spending and size; shift spending towards infrastructure; merit-based employment and services
Immigration: Restrict unskilled immigration especially during high youth unemployment; newcomers should follow New Zealand's way of life
Maori: Oppose race-based policy; opposed co-governance; 'attempts to divide us by race are to be resisted'
Energy: Support using NZ fossil fuels and minerals; favour domestic oil refining
Family: Promote traditional family structure; individual responsibility over government dependency; 'charity begins at home'
Criminal Justice: Focus on rehabilitation in prison; binding citizens-initiated referendums; link MPs' pay to average wage changes
Environment: Manage NZ's environment sustainability but prioritise economic use of natural resources
The Conservative Party was founded in August 2011 by businessman Colin Craig, who had previously come third in the 2010 Auckland mayoral race with 8.7% of the vote. Formerly known as the New Conservative Party/New Conservatives rebranded to the Conservative Party NZ in 2026.
2011: Won 2.65% - not enough for Parliament
2014: Won 3.97% - still not enough for Parliament, but best result ever
2015: Colin Craig resigned after controversy over his relationship with his former press secretary Racheal MacGregor
2017: Rebranded as 'New Conservative' under new leadership. Won 0.22%
2019: Leighton Baker took leadership; party campaigned on free speech, family values, and opposition to abortion reform, euthanasia, and the UN Global Compact for Migration
2020: Won 1.5% under Baker - not enough for Parliament
2023: Won approximately 0.97% as 'New Conservatives' under co-leaders Ted Johnson and Helen
2026: Rebranded again to 'Conservative Party NZ'.
Key Policies
Party History
The Leader
Helen Houghton l Role: Party Leader of Conservative Party NZ
Helen Houghton based in Christchurch, describes herself as a former runaway street kid who survived abuse, violence, and dysfunction. Far from a career politician raised in privilege, she turned her life around to become a primary school teacher, the founding director of a charitable trust and a law student. She recently graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws.
Houghton became co-leader alongside Ted Johnson in late 2020, after Leighton Baker was removed from the leadership. In the 2022 by-election in Tauranga stood in the Tauranga electorate, winning 103 votes placing eighth out of a field of twelve candidates.