[1][2] Uffindell, who finished a degree in political science at University of Canterbury in 2012,[3][4] started The Civilian as a satirical New Zealand online newspaper in 2013.

Uffindell claimed an average of 20,000–25,000 page views per day.

[5] On 7 June 2013, The Civilian announced its intention to register a political party and to charge fifty cents as a membership fee.

[6][7] Prediction market iPredict listed a contract on 21 June 2013 measuring the likelihood of the registration of The Civilian Party before the 2014 general election.

Prime Minister John Key commented that "the Civilian Party will be thinking the biggest joke's on us, the taxpayer", and the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union reacted negatively.