The Resurgence of Jami-Lee Ross

Boston Flanagan-Connors

No stranger to controversy, former-National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross has merged his Advance New Zealand party with the conspiracy-driven Public Party. 

Together with Public Party leader Billy Te Kahika, the pair will operate under the Advance NZ banner and hope to cross the five per cent threshold to make it back into Parliament.

Ross, who has been charged by the Serious Fraud Office over donations to the National Party, said that "our political system is fast becoming one where there are two big party blocs, and no viable third option sitting in the middle." 

The party’s Facebook page has over 25,000 likes. ACT has 17,000 likes. In the latest 1 News Colmar-Brunton poll, co-leader Te Kahika scored 0.7 per cent as preferred Prime Minister, just shy of current Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on one per cent. 

So then, what does this viral party in the "middle" of New Zealand politics believe?

COVID-19

Advance NZ passionately opposes the current Government’s approach of “eradication, at any cost”. It says the COVID-19 lockdowns deprive New Zealanders of their freedom and promises to repeal the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act, should the party become part of New Zealand’s next government. 

It would implement a risk-based approach to COVID-19. This means that the vulnerable will be supported and protected, while all others are free to continue normal life.

Advance NZ believes mandatory vaccinations are a violation of human rights. Experts have criticised this view as pandering to anti-vaxxers.  

Te Kahika took it a step further, suggesting that COVID-19 is a bioweapon manufactured in China to be used to impose control over civilians around the world. Te Kahika also claims that the Government knew of the latest community transmission weeks before telling the public.

On the topic of conspiracy theories, Advance NZ is sceptical of 5G, fluoridation, and electromagnets. 

Constitution 

In line with its focus on freedom and sovereignty, Advance NZ vows to rewrite New Zealand’s constitution into a fully-fledged written constitution. This constitution would prioritise individual freedoms, and ensure the accountability and transparency of government.  

Abortion 

The party does not support abortion but recognises it as a “right to choose” issue. It believes the current law is inhumane and is “dedicated to repealing it”. The party would take the issue of abortion to a binding public referendum.

Foreign Affairs

Advance NZ is strictly anti-United Nations. It promises to review all UN agreements NZ is party to and to rescind any agreements which “do not serve the people of New Zealand”. 

Advance NZ also supports a tougher stance on China. As such, it will suspend the free trade agreement with China and focus on NZ’s more traditional allies, such as the United Kingdom and the United States.  

Economy 

In a post-COVID-19 world, the Advance Party will prioritise productivity, revenue generation, and business support. It will also launch a full investigation into past governments’ agreements and financial dealings in an attempt to “uncover all that has been hidden”. 

Ross and Te Kahika’s merged Advance NZ party may be only one month old, but it is clearly filling a conspiracy-dug hole in NZ politics. With regular Facebook live streams discussing the “omnipresent threat” of smart-phones and WiFi gaining thousands of viewers, and hundreds attending anti-lockdown protests, Advance NZ should not be dismissed at this election.