David Peter Farrar is a New Zealand political activist,, and pollster. He is a frequent commentator in the media on Internet issues. Farrar has held many roles within the New Zealand National Party and has worked in Parliament for four National Party leaders. His blog, Kiwiblog, was the most widely read and commented on New Zealand blog in 2009. Farrar also maintains a presence on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. In 2007 the National Business Review stated that: "Any realistic 'power list' produced in this country would include either Farrar or his fellow blogger and opinion leader Russell Brown."
Education and personal life
Farrar was educated in Wellington, attending St Mark's Church School and Rongotai College. He is of Jewish descent on his father's side. He studied at the University of Otago and later at Victoria University of Wellington. Farrar served on the Council of Otago University as a student representative, was President of the Commerce Faculty Students' Association and chaired the Student Representative Council. While he was at the University of Otago, he was the Otago correspondent for Campus News an alternative student newspaper published by a group in Auckland but which was distributed nationwide. The newspaper was published between 1984 and 1988, and David's involvement ran from 1985 to 1987.
Farrar is an honorary life member of the Young Nationals, due to his many years of service to the organisation. He survived some media calls for his resignation as National Secretary when he was arrested for his part in a joke press release, along with fellow Young National Michael P Moore, announcing that maverick National MP Michael Laws had been assassinated and that the Prime Minister was one of over 10,000 suspects. The joke press-release was made with the New Zealand Police logo. Farrar and Moore were subsequently arrested, but not convicted of any crime as they chose to participate in a diversion scheme for first time offenders of minor crime. The infamous fax and related media items are now displayed at the Backbencher Bar on Molesworth Street in Wellington, across the road from Parliament.
Campaign manager
At the 2005 general election Farrar was the volunteer campaign manager for National's candidate Mark Blumsky. Blumsky was defeated in his attempt to become an electorate MP, but succeeded in entering parliament via the party list.
Political views
Farrar professes a classical liberal approach to politics, that is often compromised by his party affiliation with the liberal conservative National Party and identifies as a moderate of the center-right on the political spectrum. He was a co-chair of National's Classical Liberal Policy Advisory Group at its formation in 2004. He supported the legalisation of prostitution and of civil unions in New Zealand. Farrar supports a New Zealand republic and is on the National Council of New Zealand Republic campaign. Economically his views are more in keeping with those of parties to the right of the National Party, such as the market fundamentalism of the minority ACT party. Farrar has appeared before Parliamentary select committees on a range of issues, including the Electoral Finance Bill. He often publishes his submissions on his blog.
