agendas that would subjugate people, and that billionaires had developed weaponised viruses and patented treatments for these viruses to enslave humanity. According to media reports, Te Kahika had researched fringe ideas circulating on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. His social media posts and live broadcasts were initially circulated for his Facebook friends, but gained a wider following and reached 30,000 views by May 2020. The popular reception to these broadcasts inspired him to found the Public Party. Since the Public Party had missed the deadline to register with the Electoral Commission for the 2020 New Zealand general election, Te Kahika attempted to merge his party with Hannah Tamaki's Vision NZ and the New Zealand Outdoors Party but was unsuccessful. On 26 July 2020, the Public Party announced an electoral alliance with independent Member of Parliament Jami-Lee Ross' Advance New Zealand party. Under this coalition arrangement, Te Kahika and Ross became co-leaders of the merged party. Te Kahika contested the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau and had the top list ranking on Advance's list. In early August 2020, Te Kahika urged his party's supporters not to abuse the Outdoors Party's leadership after the Outdoors Party had rejected an offer to merge with the Public Party in April. However, he also alleged that the Outdoors Party's supporters had been abusive towards the Public Party. Following a second outbreak of COVID-19 community transmission in Auckland, Te Kahika participated in an anti-lockdown protest in Aotea Square that had been organised by Facts NZ and the Kotahitanga Movement Aotearoa. On 16 August, his Public Party was recognised by the Electoral Commission as a component party of Advance New Zealand. Election campaigning and opposition to lockdown On 12 September 2020, Te Kahika and fellow Advance NZ co-leader Ross took part in a "National Rally for Freedom" rally in Auckland's Aotea Square opposing the Government's COVID-19 lockdown, which attracted thousands of people. In October 2020 it was revealed that Te Kahika's paid weekly interviews with New Zealand conspiracy theorist Vinny Eastwood had violated electoral law as they did not include a legally-required promoter statement. The Electoral Commission took no action as Te Kahika's sponsorship had been disclosed. Election results and post-election events The 2020 general election was held on 17 October. Te Kahika came fourth in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate, with 1,349 votes; the seat was won by incumbent Labour Member of Parliament