Colin King-Ansell

Colin King-Ansell (born 1946) 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^{[citation needed]}. 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^{[citation needed]}.

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