Colin Craig | |
|---|---|
 Craig in 2015 | |
| 1st Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 3 August 2011 – June 2015 | |
| Deputy | Christine Rankin |
| Succeeded by | Leighton Baker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 January 1968[1] Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Helen Craig |
| Children | 2[2][3] |
| Occupation | Businessman and politician |
Colin Craig (born 8 January 1968)[1] is a New Zealand businessman and perennial candidate who was the founding leader of the Conservative Party of New Zealand.[4]
Craig is a millionaire who owns companies that manage high-rise buildings.[5] His current company manages about $1.3 billion of assets.[6] Upon entering politics in 2011, he opposed same-sex marriage, foreign ownership of land and housing, and "anti-smacking" legislation. On 19 June 2015, Craig resigned as leader of the Conservative Party following allegations of inappropriate behaviour surrounding the party's former press secretary Rachel MacGregor (to which he admitted later at a second press conference on 22 June 2015 with his wife)[7][8] and tensions with the party's governing board. Craig has since admitted to inappropriate conduct with MacGregor but has denied charges of sexual harassment a claim being challenged in the courts by several people including Craig himself.[9][10][11] On 27 June, Craig was formally suspended from the Conservative Party.[12] Since then, his suspension has been invalidated which would enable Craig to contest the Conservative Party's leadership.[13][14] On 16 November 2015, Craig announced that he would not be contesting the Conservative Party leadership in lieu of a police investigation against him over his Party's spending during the 2014 general election.[15]
- ^ a b "Vote Colin Craig: About Colin Craig". votecolincraig.co.nz. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Kirk, Stacey (13 January 2014). "Smacking law is stupid: Colin Craig". Retrieved 2 June 2017 – via Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ Sachdeva, Sam (4 October 2016). "Colin Craig: Where did he come from, and where will he go next?". Stuff.
- ^ "People". Conservative Party of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ Fisher, David (31 July 2011). "Dreams of Act's demise". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "Making referendum count". New Zealand Centre for Political Research. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Farrar, David (22 July 2015). "Craig admits to inappropriate behaviour". Kiwiblog. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Leask, Anna (15 September 2016). "Colin Craig defamation case: Admits 'inappropriate affection' towards former press secretary". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Leask, Anna (20 June 2017). "Rachel MacGregor files lawsuit against Colin Craig". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Young, Audrey (19 June 2015). "Colin Craig could face the chop after TV antics". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Colin Craig claims evidence of allegations withheld by Conservative Party". One News. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ Theunissen, Matthew (27 June 2015). "Colin Craig's membership suspended". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ "Conservative Party battle draws to a close". The New Zealand Herald, Auckland, New Zealand. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Kirk, Stacey (7 July 1025). "Colin Craig asks forgiveness and puts his political future to a ballot". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Davidson, Isaac (16 November 2015). "Colin Craig won't seek re-election". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
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