Colin King-Ansell

Colin King-Ansell (born 1947) is a prominent figure in far-right politics in New Zealand. He has been described as "New Zealand’s most notorious Nazi cheerleader and Holocaust denier".[1]

In 1967 he joined the National Socialist Party of New Zealand. In December 1967 King-Ansell was given an 18 months prison sentence for damage to a synagogue.[2]

King-Ansell first achieved national New Zealand fame in 1968 when he appeared on a television current affairs programme. When questioned about the Holocaust, he dismissed it as lies and allied propaganda, prompting public anger. King-Ansell however did not elaborate his views on the screen. Seven years later the current affairs host Brian Edwards said the first tape of the interview was accidentally not broadcast.[3]

In 1969 he became leader of the National Socialist Party.[4] He stood for the National Socialists in the general election of 1972 and contested the Mount Albert in 1975 and again in 1978. In 1979 he was fined $400 following an appeal against a 3-month prison sentence for breaching the Race Relations Act.[5]

He was subsequently involved in a number of extremist groups, including Unit 88. As the leader of the NZ Fascist Union he was interviewed on the Paul Holmes show.

In 2006 he became chairman of a local business association, Progress Hawera,[6] but was subsequently expelled when his far-right past was exposed.

King-Ansell currently leads the New Zealand National Front. He has declared that he has renounced Nazism.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Hitler ’stuffed up a damn good idea’ The Taranaki Daily News 17 June 2006
  2. ↑ Spoonley, Paul The Politics of Nostalgia: racism and the extreme right in New Zealand The Dunmore Press (1987) p155
  3. ↑ Ku Klux Kiwis, Australia/Israel Review, 1998
  4. ↑ Spoonley, Paul The Politics of Nostalgia: racism and the extreme right in New Zealand The Dunmore Press (1987) p151
  5. ↑ Spoonley, Paul The Politics of Nostalgia: racism and the extreme right in New Zealand The Dunmore Press (1987) p155
  6. ↑ Exposed! Heil Hawera: Past catches up with former neo-Nazi leader The Taranaki Daily News 17 June 2006
  7. ↑ Right-wing party 'not recruiting in schools' The Taranaki Daily News 13 March 2009
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.