Imperial British Conservative Party

The Imperial British Conservative Party was a farcical political party founded by The Wizard of New Zealand in 1974. It "stood for the traditions of British imperialism in the face of capitalism, globalisation and the distinct lack of culture in Christchurch, New Zealand."[1] It was still operating in 1984, though news reports also referred to it as The Wizard Party.[2]

The party contested the 1975 election election on a platform of conserving the monarchy, waging a fourth world war using votes and notices of motion to convert everyone to the British way of life, and the elimination of work to strengthen the family.[3] It planned to stand a dozen candidates.[4] The party stood a candidate in the 1976 Nelson by-election, where a tabulation error in their final results was attributed to a "hex" placed by the Wizard.[5]

For the 1978 election election it changed its name to the Tory Party.[6] It later ran a candidate in the 1980 Onehunga by-election.

At the 1984 election election it ran a candidate against Geoffrey Palmer.[7] It also ran candidates at the 1987 election election.[8]

  1. ^ "Four parody political parties that have existed in New Zealand". NZ Herald. 15 September 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Back In The Day: Imperial British Conservative Party". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Wizard's stirring call". The Press. 19 June 1975. p. 18. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
  4. ^ "Wizard's plan public". The Press. 2 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ "Wizard power at work?". The Press. 1 March 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
  6. ^ "Tory Channell bid". The Press. 29 August 1978. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "TINKERBELL SADLER GEOFFREY PALMER". The Press. 28 June 1984. p. 25. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Town's 'blue' status in question". The Press. 12 August 1987. p. 25. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.