Ewen McQueen
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Ewen McQueen is the leader of Christian Heritage New Zealand, a religious political party in New Zealand.
McQueen was born in Palmerston North in 1965, although spent most of his youth in the North Shore (part of the greater Auckland area). He attended Takapuna Grammar School (where he was head prefect) and Auckland University. His primary field of study at university was economics, in which he eventually gained a Master's degree. He currently works as a project manager for the Auckland District Health Board.
McQueen joined the Christian Heritage Party in 1992, and has stood as a Christian Heritage candidate on five occasions. Four of his campaigns were in the Auckland electorates of Eden, Epsom and Mt Roskill, but his most successful election campaign was in the Taranaki-King Country by-election in 1998, in which he placed fifth. He also served as his party's deputy leader and finance spokeperson until 1999.
In August 2003, McQueen was selected as the new leader of Christian Heritage, replacing the retiring Graham Capill. His primary opponent was Vic Jarvis, an employment relations consultant from Palmerston North.
McQueen became a Christian when aged eighteen, and says that his belief gives "hope, meaning, direction and strength." He states a belief that he was "called to politics" in the same way that others might be called "to be a pastor or evangelist or such like." His main priorities for Christian Heritage are opposition to abortion and the strengthening of traditional marriage and family structures.
External links
Christian Heritage Party Leader biography (http://www.chnz.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=0)