The New Zealand Democratic Coalition was a proposed moderate political party intended to contest the 1996 General Election.
It would have been led by former Prime Minister Mike Moore and was intended to capture the balance of power on election night.
After losing the leadership Moore was overwhelmed with boxes full of letters of support, many suggesting him launch a new party.
[2] Early in 1994 Michael Laws and Mike Moore appeared on TVNZ's current affairs programme Fraser together.
[3] Involved in the discussions were;[4] Also rumored to be potential invitees to the new party were Damien O'Connor and Elizabeth Tennet.
[4] A "breakfast club" was later formed in which Laws, McCardle, Moore and Elder regularly meet to further discussions.
Braybrooke was left out of these as he was suffering ill-health but he reportedly remained determined to follow Moore to any new party.
Here they elected Rosy Fenwick, a Hastings GP and friend of Laws, to be secretary-general and form a document known as "The Aims & Objectives of the New Zealand Democratic Coalition".
Ron Mark, Peter McCardle and Jack Elder followed Laws to the New Zealand First party and became list MPs after the 1996 election.
Moore was reelected as a Labour MP in 1996 but resigned in early 1999 so he could serve as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.