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For the party of the same name which existed from 1995 to 1997, see Advance New Zealand (1995).
Advance New Zealand
SecretaryJami-Lee Ross
Co-leadersJami-Lee Ross
Billy TK Jr.
FounderJami-Lee Ross
Founded2020[1]
Split fromNew Zealand National Party
Headquarters309 Botany Road, Botany,
Auckland
IdeologyAnti-corruption[citation needed]
Populism[citation needed]]
Nationalism[citation needed]
Direct democracy[citation needed]
Minority interests[citation needed]
Conspiracy theorism[2]
Political positionBig tent
International affiliationNone
Colours  Blue and   Red
MPs in the House of Representatives
0 / 120
[3]
Website
advancenz.org.nz

The Advance New Zealand Party[4] is a political party in New Zealand led by Jami-Lee Ross and Billy TK Jr. The idea was first unveiled in a newsletter from Ross released in April 2020. Jami-Lee Ross claims the party is a centrist and anti-corruption movement designed to appeal to voters "in the middle"; however, their main policies represent the political fringe rather than centre. Ross had been a member of the centre-right New Zealand National Party until a public spat with leader Simon Bridges during which he accused Bridges of corruption. Ross has since been accused of sexual harassment and bullying, and is currently under investigation for corruption himself.[1] In July 2020, it entered into a pact with New Zealand Public Party, a conspiracy theory party that spread disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Jami-Lee Ross had been a long-time stalwart for New Zealand's centre-right National Party, having been elected to the Manukau City Council in 2004 aged just 18, and later as a Member of Parliament for Botany at 25 in 2011. Being one of the safest seats for the National Party, Ross would continue to win Botany by comfortable margins.[5] Ross eventually became the party's Senior Whip in May 2017. After the National Party lost power at the 2017 election, Ross became a high-ranking figure in the Opposition led by new National leader Simon Bridges, serving as party spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure.

In a highly publicised falling out, Ross accused Bridges of corruption involving a $100,000 donation to the party, filing a false return and falsifying the name of a donor to hide the identity, Bridges denied all of the claims.[6] Ross departed from the National Party in October 2018, just before the National Party voted to expel him.[6] The party went through with the vote to expelled him anyway.[6][7][8] Ross then released the audio from conversations between him and Bridges which he said backed up his claim.[9][10] In a press conference on 16 October, Ross announced his intention to resign his seat and contest the resulting by-election as an Independent candidate. In the end however Ross chose to remain in Parliament and the election never took place.[11][12][13] Ross was subsequently accused of sexual harassment and bullying behaviour towards staff members, National Party officials, and members of Parliament.[14][15]

On 29 January 2020 the Serious Fraud Office announced they had charged four people in relation to the claims made by Ross in 2018 around the NZ$100,000 donation. It was said that none of the sitting National Party MPs at the time, including Simon Bridges, were among the four charged.[16] On 19 February 2020, it was reported that Ross was one among four people charged by the SFO over a $105,000 donation made to the National Party in June 2018. The SFO alleged that Ross and the other defendants, three Chinese businessmen,[17][18] had committed fraud by splitting the 2018 donation into sums of money less than $15,000, which were then transferred into the bank accounts of eight different people before being donated to the National Party.[19][20] On 25 February, Ross and the other defendants appeared in court where they pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to the National Party donations.[18][21][22]

Creation

With Ross's case still ongoing in the Auckland District Court, he announced his intention to create his own political party in an April 2020 newsletter. The party was described by Ross as a "new political movement" designed to appeal to "brave voices in the middle that speak truth to power". Little else is known about the party beyond its broadly centrist ethos and central issue of anti-corruption – in particular, opposition to the Chinese government's supposed influence on New Zealand. It is expected that Ross will contest his seat of Botany as the Advance NZ candidate, going up against National candidate and former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon.[1][23]

In July 2020, the Advance New Zealand Party applied for registration with the Electoral Commission.[24][25] It achieved registration on 6 August 2020.[26] By mid-September, Ross claimed the party had 7,000 members.[27]

Alliances with other parties

Advance New Zealand has four component parties: the New Zealand Public Party, the New Zealand People's Party, Direct Democracy New Zealand, and Reset NZ.[4] Jami-Lee Ross has said that his plan for the party based on the structure and make-up of the Alliance Party, and he has proposed an arrangement where smaller parties would maintain their own identity and board, but stand candidates under a shared party list as Advance.[28] Ross also said that he had also invited the New Zealand Outdoors Party, New Conservative Party, The Opportunities Party, Social Credit, Heartland New Zealand Party and ONE Party to join Advance in the alliance. The New Conservatives, TOP, Outdoors Party, and ONE Party rejected the offer.[29][30] Winston Peters stated that Advance approached his party, New Zealand First, which he rejected, saying that Advance was "dangerous, particularly to Maori and Polynesian people".[31]

New Zealand Public Party

Main article: New Zealand Public Party

On 26 July 2020 Ross announced that he was merging Advance New Zealand with the New Zealand Public Party.[32][28] Public Party leader Billy TK Jr. became co-leader of Advance. Te Kahika will have the number one ranking on Advance's party's list and he will contest the electorate of Te Tai Tokerau, though on behalf of the NZ Public Party. All other party candidates running under the Advance NZ banner.[32] The New Zealand Public Party, which subscribes to many conspiracy theories,[33][34][35] is known for spreading misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic,[36][37] as well as opposition to 5G technology, 1080 poison, fluoridation and electromagnets.[28] On 16 August 2020 the Electoral Commission announced that it recognised the Public Party as a component party of Advance New Zealand.[38]

New Zealand People's Party

Main article: New Zealand People's Party

Ross appeared in a Facebook video of 29 July 2020 and stated that the New Zealand People's Party would be joining with Advance.[39] The Electoral Commission confirmed that the People's Party was a component party of Advance on 18 August.[40] The People's Party is a formerly-registered political party which contested the 2017 general election and two by-elections in 2016 with a particular focus on the rights of immigrants.[41][42]

Direct Democracy New Zealand

Main article: Direct Democracy New Zealand

On 18 August, the Electoral Commission also announced that Direct Democracy New Zealand was recorded as a component party of Advance New Zealand.[40] According to its website, the party advocates for binding referendums, and opposes large-scale immigration, and "race-based" policies.[43]

Reset NZ

On 18 August, the Electoral Commission also announced that Reset NZ was recorded as a component party of Advance New Zealand.[40] According to Reset NZ's website, the party was founded by private investigator and intelligence analyst, Michael Stace, and its main policy is to dissolve Parliament and replace it with an interim governing body of three leaders and a 'brain trust' of 21 people selected by the leaders. This group would develop a new government structure, which would include a constitution and the banning of 'career politicians'.[44][45]

2020 election

The Advance Party received a broadcasting allocation of $62,186 for the 2020 election.[46] On 24 August 2020 Advance New Zealand declared a $65,633.23 from the Public Party, the second-largest donation declared by any party so far that year.[47]

In late August 2020, the party posted a video in August 2020 claiming that the Government had passed legislation forcing New Zealanders to be vaccinated against COVID-19. According to news outlet Agence France-Presse, the advertisement includes footage from parliament video that had been edited mid-sentence to change the meaning of MP Erica Stanford's speech. Any use of parliamentary footage in political advertising is against parliamentary rules, and the Speaker of the House ordered the removal of the footage from social media. Advance refused to comply.[48][49][50] After co-leader Ross refused to withdraw the video, he was referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee by Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard,[48][51] who unanimously agreed Ross had broken parliamentary rules, though with Parliament about to be dissolved, the next steps would be for the next Privileges Committee to determine.[52][53]

The party's leaders organised a rally on 12 September 2020, in which a crowd of a few thousand protested against lockdowns and other restrictions due to Covid-19, the 5G cellphone network, vaccines, the government in general, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The crowd ignored social distancing requirements and most did not have masks; police recognised people’s lawful right to protest, but also said they recognise the need for people to follow the current level 2 restrictions to do their part to help prevent the spread of Covid-19" and said they "will continue to take an educative approach with attendees and organisers when necessary.”[54][55]

On 15 September, Ross announced that he would no longer contest the seat of Botany at the election, a seat that he had held as a National MP from 2011 to 2018, then as an independent MP until 2020. Instead Ross said he would campaign as a list-only candidate for the Advance Party.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross is forming his own political party – Advance New Zealand". New Zealand Herald. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Jami-Lee Ross hitches wagon to conspiracy theorists". Newsroom. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Members of Parliament". Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Register of political parties". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 1 June 2020 suggested (help)
  5. ^ "Final Botany results counted, Jami-Lee to be sworn in". Newshub. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Explosive claims: National sacks Jami-Lee Ross, Simon Bridges denies 'corruption' claims". New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020.
  7. ^ Braae, Alex (16 October 2018). "Jami-Lee Ross accuses Bridges of corruption: the National implosion, explained". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
  8. ^ Smellie, Pattrick (16 October 2018). "Jami-Lee Ross accuses Bridges of corruption". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Full transcript: The Jami-Lee Ross tape of Simon Bridges". New Zealand Herald. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020.
  10. ^ Kirk, Stacey (4 November 2018). "Another alleged recording of phone call between Simon Bridges and Jami-Lee Ross is leaked". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Jami-Lee Ross: 'I believe Simon Bridges is a corrupt politician'". Radio New Zealand. 16 October 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Live: Jami-Lee Ross quits National, accuses Simon Bridges of 'corruption'". Stuff. 16 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Jami-Lee Ross tweets pics of Simon Bridges and Chinese '$100k donor' as MP accuses National Party leader of electoral fraud". 1 News. 16 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  14. ^ Reid, Melanie; Mason, Cass (18 October 2018). "Jami-Lee Ross: Four women speak out". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020.
  15. ^ du Plessis-Allan, Heather (19 October 2018). "Exclusive: Watch – Jami-Lee Ross admits to affairs with two women". Newstalk ZB. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2018. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 18 February 2019 suggested (help)
  16. ^ Forbes, Steve (30 January 2020). "MP Jami-Lee Ross avoiding media after Serious Fraud Office charges four people". Stuff. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  17. ^ Hurley, Sam (19 February 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross one of four men charged over National Party donations". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Four men facing SFO charges over National Party donations plead not guilty". Radio New Zealand. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2020.
  19. ^ Roden, Jessica (19 February 2020). "MP Jami-Lee Ross among four charged over National Party donations". 1 News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  20. ^ Murphy, Tim (19 February 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross one of 4 charged by SFO". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Jami-Lee Ross, three Chinese businessmen plead not guilty to National Party donation charges". 1 News. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  22. ^ Hurley, Sam (25 February 2020). "National Party donations: MP Jami-Lee Ross pleads not guilty to SFO charges". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  23. ^ Stephen Forbes (14 May 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross' battle for Botany continues with new party Advance NZ". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  24. ^ "General election candidates: Who will be standing?". New Zealand Herald. 13 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Three parties apply to register". Electoral Commission. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Registration of three parties and logos". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  27. ^ a b Kirkness, Luke (15 September 2020). "Election 2020: Advance NZ's Jami-Lee Ross abandons attempt to retain Botany seat". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020.
  28. ^ a b c "Ex-National MP Jami-Lee Ross joins forces with controversial party in hope of forming a new Alliance party". New Zealand Herald. 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  29. ^ Alex Brae (26 July 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross, Billy Te Kahika and the rebel alliance of Election 2020". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  30. ^ "ONE Party enters Tukituki election race with Melanie Petrowski". New Zealand Herald. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020.
  31. ^ "Winston Peters says he turned down offer from the Advance NZ party to join forces". Play Stuff. Retrieved 16 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ a b Thomas Coughlan (26 July 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross looks to Te Tai Tokerau as he plots journey back to Parliament". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  33. ^ Marc Daalder (26 July 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross hitches wagon to conspiracy theorists". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  34. ^ Braae, Alex (26 July 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross, Billy Te Kahika and the rebel alliance of Election 2020". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  35. ^ "NZ Election 2020: New Zealand Public Party's policies". Newshub. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  36. ^ "COVID-19 gives Billy TK the UN red flag blues". Waatea News. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  37. ^ Mark Peters (10 July 2020). "Global 'plandemic'". Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Component party recorded for The Advance New Zealand Party". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  39. ^ "NZ People's Party joins forces with NZ Public Party and Advance NZ for the 2020 elections". Facebook - Apna Television Channel 36 - NZ. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  40. ^ a b c "Component parties recorded for The Advance New Zealand Party". New Zealand Electoral Commission. 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  41. ^ Lynch, Jenna (30 August 2016). "NZ's first political party dedicated to immigrants". Newshub. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  42. ^ "Political party for immigrants to focus on crime". Radio New Zealand. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  43. ^ "Operating Principles". Direct Democracy New Zealand. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  44. ^ "About". Reset New Zealand Party. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  45. ^ "The Solution and Our Platform". Reset New Zealand Party. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  46. ^ "2020 Broadcasting Allocation Decision Released". Electoral Commission. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  47. ^ "Election 2020: Advance NZ receives year's second-biggest political donation". New Zealand Herald. 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  48. ^ a b Patterson, Jane (28 August 2020). "MP Jami-Lee Ross referred to committee over anti-vaccination video". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  49. ^ "New Zealand political party's misleading campaign video makes false 'forced' coronavirus vaccination claim". Agence France-Presse Fact Check. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  50. ^ "Appendix D: Rules for filming and conditions for use of official television coverage - New Zealand Parliament". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  51. ^ "Jami-Lee Ross refuses to remove vaccination video despite concerns it's misleading". 1 News. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  52. ^ "Parliament's Privileges Committee unanimous on agreement MP Jami-Lee Ross broke rules". Radio New Zealand. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  53. ^ "Advance NZ vaccination video a 'blatant doctoring' and 'misleading'". Otago Daily Times. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  54. ^ "Advance Party and crowd rallies against Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns". NZ Herald. 12 September 2020. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  55. ^ Earley, Melanie (12 September 2020). "Coronavirus: More than a thousand turn out for anti-lockdown rally in Auckland". Stuff. Retrieved 13 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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