Paul Adams is a
politicianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former rally driving champion from
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Early years
Adams was originally a
carpenterA carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and
joinerA joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, but later established a business manufacturing outdoor
playgroundA playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
equipment. Later, he became a professional rally driver, and won three prestigious New Zealand championships. He also owned a
Kia MotorsKia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
and Suzuki dealerships in
AucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
Member of Parliament
Adams is a member of Pentecostal
City Impact ChurchCity Impact Church can refer to:* City Impact Church New Zealand in Auckland, Queenstown, Invercargill, Balclutha* City Impact Church Canada in Fredericton...
, and as a result, became involved in
Christian politics in New ZealandThis article discusses Christian politics in New Zealand, particularly socially conservative and evangelical Christian politics. Although slightly over half of New Zealand's population belong, at least nominally, to Christian denominations,...
. After first being a member of the
Christian Heritage PartyThe Christian Heritage Party of New Zealand was a New Zealand political party espousing Christian values...
, he joined the religious-based
Future New ZealandThe Kiwi Party is a New Zealand political party formed in 2007. Briefly known as Future New Zealand, it is a breakaway from the United Future New Zealand party and seeks to carry on the tradition of Future New Zealand. The party was formed when MP Gordon Copeland left United Future after a dispute...
party. Future New Zealand later merged with
United New ZealandUnited New Zealand was a centrist political party in New Zealand founded in 1995. It merged with the Christian-based Future New Zealand party to form the United Future New Zealand party in 2000.-History:...
to form the modern
United Future New Zealand group, which Adams remained a member of until 2005. In the
2002 electionsThe 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, Adams was ranked ninth on the United Future party list. Thanks to the unexpectedly strong performance of United Future, the party gained enough votes for eight seats, leaving Adams just outside Parliament. Later,
Kelly ChalKelly Chal is a former New Zealand politician. She was elected to Parliament and held her seat for 17 days before it was realised she was ineligible, not being a New Zealand citizen.-Early life:...
, a higher-ranked candidate, was forced to withdraw because she did not have New Zealand
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, which she had not realised was necessary. Adams, as the next candidate on the list, entered Parliament in her place.
Adams was one of the more conservative members of Parliament. After he was elected, it was reported that he had made a written submission on the 1993 Human Rights Bill saying that people with
AIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
should not be allowed to "run loose". He also spoke out about subjects like
abortionAbortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, and fasted for 21 days to oppose the
civil unionsCivil union has been legal in New Zealand since 26 April 2005. The Civil Union Act to establish the institution of civil union for same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed by the Parliament on 9 December 2004. The Act has been described as very similar to the Marriage Act with references to...
legislation, which was passed regardless.
Independent
On 15 August 2005 Adams left United Future to stand as an independent in the East Coast Bays Electorate. He gained 5809 votes after a short five week campaign, which placed him third overall. He was subsequently involved with a proposed new party to be established by his former colleague
Gordon CopelandGordon Copeland is a New Zealand politician who was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2008. He was a list MP for the United Future New Zealand party from 2002 until he resigned from the party in 2007. He is now Party President of The Kiwi Party, which he co-founded with another former United...
and
Destiny New ZealandDestiny New Zealand was a Christian political party in New Zealand centred on the charismatic/pentecostal Destiny Church. The party described itself as "centre-right". It placed a strong focus on socially conservative values and argued that the breakdown of the traditional family was a primary...
. However these negotiations collapsed, but Adams then became the Deputy Leader of The Family Party.
Adams stood as a candidate for The Family Party in the East Coast Bays Electorate in the 2008 election.
Adams is presently working as a real estate agent for
Barfoot & ThompsonBarfoot & Thompson is a privately owned, non-franchised real estate company based in Auckland, New Zealand. The company is owned and managed by The Barfoot & Thompson family and is directed by Peter Thompson and Garth Barfoot....
in the East Coast Bays area.
On the 9 November 2008 general election, Paul Adams was again unsuccessful as Family Party candidate for the
East Coast BaysEast Coast Bays is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first formed in 1972 and has existed apart from a break lasting two parliamentary terms. The electorate is currently held by Murray McCully.-Population centres:...
electorate. He polled third, behind National candidate
Murray McCullyMurray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
and
LabourThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
candidate Vivienne Goldsmith. As The Family Party failed to win any other electorate or list seats, Adams will not be re-entering Parliament
http://www.elections.govt.nz