Religious fundamentalism has intruded into politics again, as this morning’s New Zealand Heraldreports:
a series of anti-Labour and anti-Green leaflet drops have been revealed
to be the work of the “Exclusive Brethren,” a secretive Christian sect.

As the paper says, “The revelation is a surprise, as the Exclusive
Brethren supposedly divorce themselves from worldly matters and do not
normally vote. Exclusive Brethren socialise only with other Exclusive
Brethren and eschew technology such as televisions, computers and
cellphones.”

Apparently the political intervention is due to the group’s new leader,
Australian Bruce Hales (reversing the usual trend of cross-Tasman
migration). The leaflets are directed especially at the Greens, who are
described as “socially destructive.” A Greens spokeswoman said “I do
find it strange that a group that claims to be Christian can so easily
break one of the Ten Commandments by telling such lies.”

This new diversion comes as the opposition National Party continues to lead in the polls. One weekend poll gave
them an 8% lead, but others have suggested it is much closer. One thing
that might worry the Nationals is that their possible coalition
partner, New Zealand First, dropped below the five percent threshold
in the latest poll, putting their parliamentary representation in doubt
– but the Nationals would much prefer to do without them anyway if they
can.

Labour remain narrow favourites at Centrebet at 5-4 on, but the gap has been steadily closing. It looks as if New Zealand could be in for a cliffhanger.