Conspiracy party folds

Auckland: Conspiracy theorist Billy Te Kahika has abandoned his political aspirations and shut down his party, announcing he will focus instead on his activism.

It brings an end to the shortlived New Zealand Public Party, briefly known as the Freedom Party, which campaigned on Covid19 misinformation.

The party contested last year’s election through a pact with Advance New Zealand — a party led by disgraced former National MP JamiLee Ross.

The alliance received just 1% of the vote and broke apart shortly after the poor electoral showing.

Te Kahika has fronted several rallies protesting the Government’s handling of Covid19 over the past year, in particular the lockdown measures.