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Bill Dyet has only had a short time in politics, but already he has changed parties.
Earlier this year, the Okura resident was selected by Matt King’s Democracy NZ Party (DNZ) as its candidate for the Whangaparāoa electorate in this year’s general election (HM May 29).
But last month, he announced he has left DNZ to join the Leighton Baker Party.
He says he joined DNZ because he met its leader, Matt King, at a public event, got to know him and respected him for resigning from National.
“I still like Matt, however it later became clear to me that the board is running DNZ, not just Matt,” Dyet says. “This board authority structure works for a major, well-established party like National, but not for a new minor party where supporters and candidates join up primarily for the cause, rather than to get into Parliament. In a new party, the leader and the candidates have to sell the party to their supporters and are likewise readily available to supporters and held accountable by them. None of this applies to the Board.”
In Dyet’s view, in a minor party, the board should operate in a purely administrative role, supporting the leader and the candidates.
“It should be the leader and the top candidates who ultimately enter into negotiations with a potential coalition partner after the election, not the board, which, in the case of DNZ, have a past association with National and do not have to front up to the supporters. That’s not a good look for the ‘freedom’ voters and supporters who want nothing to do with the National Party.”
Dyet says he may stand in either the Whangaparāoa or East Coast Bays electorate for his new party.
