Whites-only "mini-state" condemned

Published: 10:55AM Thursday January 22, 2009 Source: ONE News/NZPA

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A former White Power member and National Front leader wants to build a headquarters on the outskirts of the North Canterbury town of Rangiora.

A leaked email outlines attempts to create a European-only "protected community" in North Canterbury.

Former National Front leader and skinhead Kyle Chapman wrote the email to the National Alliance - a far-Right group - and the email was leaked on to the internet.

The email begins with "Hello Patriots" and calls for donations to help build a "Nationalist Land Base".

The first base would be set up in North Canterbury, Chapman's email said.

"With an ever decreasing European population we face the real risk of having no power in our Nation," he said.

"We must act to build a unified mini state that we could build up in future to be a base for other like minded Europeans to come to from other dying countries."

Chapman used to be the vocal voice at the frontline of anti-immigrant National Front rallies in Christchurch. Currently, he uses YouTube and the Internet to communicate with like-minded individuals.

Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove told The Press newspaper the idea was "nutty".

"He's 50 or 60 years behind the world. People have moved on. It's crackpot stuff," he said.

The language used in the email "bred hate and division", said Cosgrove.

Other North Canterbury officials are equally wary. Ron Keeting, the Waimakariri District Mayor, says he finds it "despicable" and that it would be totally unwelcome in the community.

Senior Sergeant Peter Cooper of the Rangiora Police warned a "white supremacist brand" would bring negative attention to the area.

"I think people would be very keen not to see that label attached to any group that sets up in North Canterbury."

Locals were also adamant the group wouldn't be welcome, including immigrants who said they moved to New Zealand to escape racism in the first place.

Chapman would not appear on camera to discuss his new initiative, but told ONE News money is already pouring in to fund it - albeit, as of Thursday, only $1,500 in his account.

"I've also got about five or six people that are willing to sell their properties, and we've got about ten to fifteen people that are paying a weekly amount towards it."

Chapman says he is hoping to raise around $300,000 in the next two years to buy a bare block of land in the area. Right now, that sort of money would buy a premium piece of real estate in Canterbury.

He attempts to frame the idea of the base in an innocent light, saying the idea is to build a place to "be with your mates...to be with people you get on with."

According to his latest email to those 'mates', it would have a school, accommodation, a meeting house for leaders and "active Nationalists".

Other features at the base would be a training area for "sport fighting" and "survivalist training".

Chapman also claims an Australian farming couple is also keen to sell up and join him.

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