Billy Te Kahika leaves Advance NZ party

Advance NZ co-leader Billy Te Kahika severed ties with the party after he failed to enter Parliament.

This follows an apparent fight between Te Kahika and co-leader Jami-Lee Ross.

Today, Ross told the Herald that he had not spoken to Te Kahika since the election, although he said the couple had exchanged emails.

Last night, Te Kahika sent an email to party candidates about her decision to leave the party and indicated that she wanted to return to the New Zealand Public Party, a component party of Advance NZ.

Following Te Kahika’s email, Ross sent an email to party supporters to say that Te Kahika “has decided not to continue the match.”

“Naturally, this is sad for everyone,” Ross said.

He said that Te Kahika has inspired many people in New Zealand, saying that this is not the end of the party.

“Advance NZ will continue and restructure in the next phase of our journey.

“The rush of the electoral campaign caused everything to be done in a hurry. Our reconstituted party, with more time now, will be the democratic, transparent and professional party that its members, supporters and candidates deserve.

“In the coming months we will be completing the review that started a few days ago.

“The plan for the future will see a special general meeting held early next year, and a reconstituted party, with a new national structure, will continue in preparation for 2023,” Ross said.

On election night, Advance NZ garnered 20,841 party votes, or 0.9 percent of the preliminary vote, well below the 5 percent threshold for seats in Parliament.

Advance NZ grew a large social network in the wake of conspiracy theories and opposition to the Covid-19 shutdowns.

He had more of an impact online than at the polls, and will be remembered for the anti-lockdown protests in the run-up to the elections, and his outlandish claims and promotion of misinformation (one candidate claimed the Lake Ōhau fires were caused By a direct energy weapon, for example).

The party was co-hosted by blues musician Billy Te Kahika Jr, who was in the Te Tai Tokerau constituency, and Ross.