2008 Election
In 2008 the United Future Party named candidates for 51 seats. Policies included tax cuts and various initiatives aimed at supporting parents, such as the extension of paid parental leave to 12 months; the option of income splitting for parents with dependent children and couples in which one partner relies on the other for financial support; and the promotion of shared parenting. There were also a number of healthcare policies including granting everyone one free health check per year.
The election resulted in Peter Dunne's re-election as United Future's only surviving Member of Parliament. He retained his own parliamentary seat of Ohariu-Belmont, but United Future itself did not poll sufficiently highly to bring additional caucus members into Parliament alongside him. It is unknown how many former Future New Zealand members defected from United Future to establish The Kiwi Party, which was unsuccessful in retaining parliamentary representation after the election.
The National Party won the most seats overall and formed a minority government with support from United Future as well as the Maori Party and ACT New Zealand. Dunne retained his portfolios as Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister for Health.
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“Now that the election is over, may not all, having a common interest, re-unite in a common effort, to save our common country?”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)