Values Party

The Values Party, sometimes considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party, was established in 1972 at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The Values Party contested three elections but did not gain seats since the first past the post electoral system was in use at that time.

It did manage to get some candidates elected to local government. The first was Helen Smith of Titahi Bay, who joined the Porirua City Council in 1973.

Values Party policies included campaigns against nuclear power and armaments, advocating zero population and economic growth, abortion, drug and homosexual law reform. Although the Values Party was never in parliament, it drew considerable attention to these topics. Many political scientists credit the Values Party with making the environment a political issue, and with prompting other parties to formulate their own environmental policies.

In light of its failure to win seats, the Values Party gradually lost much of its earlier support. In May 1990, however, the Values Party joined with a number of other environmentalist organizations to form the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Many former members of the Values Party are now active in the Green Party - Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald, co-leaders of the Greens, were both members of the Values Party, and Mike Ward, once co-leader of the Values Party, now serves as a Green MP.