Billy Te Kahika

William Desmond Te Kahika Junior (born 18 July 1972),[1] also known as Billy TK J(n)r,[2] is a New Zealand conspiracy theorist, blues musician, guitarist, businessman and political candidate who lives in Whangārei.[2][3][4] He is the son of Māori musician, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Billy TK. During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Te Kahika attracted media coverage both as the leader of the fringe New Zealand Public Party (NZPP) and for his promulgation of conspiracy theories.[4][5][6][7][8] Both Te Kahika and the NZPP have opposed the New Zealand Government's lockdown restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][9]

For his father, see Billy TK.

Billy Te Kahika Junior
Leader of the New Zealand Public Party
Assumed office
June 2020
Co-leader of Advance NZ
In office
6 August 2020 – 26 October 2020
Co-leading with Jami-Lee Ross
Personal details
Born (1972-07-18) 18 July 1972
ParentsBilly TK

Early life and musical career

Te Kahika Junior is the son of Māori musician Billy TK, who played with the New Zealand rock band "The Human Instinct."[4][10] His mother is Pākehā. He grew up in Māngere, Auckland.[11] Te Kahika followed in his father's footsteps and became a guitarist, inheriting the title of the "Māori Hendrix."[4][10] Since 1993, he has toured internationally, performing with various artists such as George Thorogood, Jimmy Barnes, The Neville Brothers, Ian Moss, Junior Wells, Little Willy Foster, and Joe Satriani. He has also performed at several gigs including the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival and Fiji International Jazz and Blues Festival. He also led a band called "The Groove Shakers."[10][12][13]

Te Kahika joined the Army as he wanted to be an SAS soldier but ended up serving as a Private in the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment between September 2001 and January 2003.[1] During that time he attended military intelligence courses.[14] He was then a police recruit between May and July 2003.[14]

In January 2013, Te Kahika's band "The Groove Shakers" toured Picton alongside the American MoFo Party Band and the English Kingsnake Blues Band.[10] In July 2016, Te Kahika announced plans to host the World Indigenous Festival in the Northland Region, establishing a company called the World Indigenous Festival New Zealand with himself serving as its CEO. This venture received the support of former New Zealand Prime Minister and the United Nations Development Programme's Head Helen Clark.[15] Several taxpayer-funded bodies including Te Puni Kōkiri invested NZ$40,000 in the World Indigenous Festival while Sport New Zealand invested NZ$20,000. Ultimately, the World Indigenous Festival, which was scheduled to take place in 2019 did not go ahead. Sport NZ and the Auckland Council's economic growth agency ATEED later stated that they did not give Te Kahika permission to use their corporate logos in material pitching their support.[16]

In the summer of 2018/19, Te Kahika and Irish vocalist Ronan Kavanagh toured Northland as part of the AA Solar Summer Music Series.[13] In November 2018, Te Kahika and his father played at the Old Parakao Store Cafe/Bar in Pakotai.[17] In October 2019, Te Kahika Jr. held a Road to Chicago tour across New Zealand as a warm up to his tour of the United States in early 2020.[18] Between January and mid-February 2020, he toured the United States, performing with blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy in Chicago on 13 January.[2][3][18]

In October 2020 an investigation by Stuff Circuit found that Te Kahika had repeatedly not paid musicians for gigs or expenses, and had misrepresented the New Zealand Government as backing a feasibility study to install solar power in 20 hotels in Samoa.[16][1]

Political career

Founding of the New Zealand Public Party

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Te Kahika founded the New Zealand Public Party, which was launched on 11 June 2020.[19] The NZ Public Party has campaigned against the Government's COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and opposes the United Nations, 5G technology, 1080 poison, fluoridation and electromagnets.[20][21][22] Te Kahika has spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that the pandemic would enable globalist leaders to implement UN agendas that would subjugate people, and that billionaires had developed weaponised viruses and patented treatments for these viruses to enslave humanity.[19] 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 in May 2020. The popular reception to these broadcasts inspired him to found the NZ Public Party.[4][22]

Since the NZ Public Party had missed the deadline to register with the Electoral Commission, Te Kahika attempted to merge his party with Hannah Tamaki's Vision NZ and the New Zealand Outdoors Party but was unsuccessful.[23] On 26 July 2020, the NZ 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 would also contest the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau and take the first list ranking on Advance NZ's list.[21][24][25]

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.[26] 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.[27] On 16 August, his Public Party was recognised by the Electoral Commission as a component party of Advance New Zealand.[28]

Election campaigning and opposition to lockdown

On 12 September, Te Kahika and fellow Advance NZ co-leader Ross took part in a "National Rally for Freedom" rally opposing the Government's COVID-19 lockdown in Auckland's Aotea Square, which attracted thousands of people.[29]

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.[30]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election that was held on 17 October, Te Kahika contested the Te Tai Tokerau Māori seat but came fourth place with 1,349 votes, trailing behind incumbent Labour Member of Parliament Kelvin Davis.[31] The Advance NZ coalition only gained one percent of the popular vote (28,429), below the five percent margin needed to enter Parliament.[32]

Post–2020 general election

Following the election, Te Kahika alleged it had been rigged and that Advance NZ ballots had been disqualified because voters added comments or smiley faces to their ballots. He also claimed that 200,000 votes had been not been properly counted. He refused to accept the election result and said he planned a tally of Advance voters to prove the official process was corrupt. The Electoral Commission disputed Te Kahika's allegations that adding comments to a ballot would invalidate them and rejected his allegation about the 200,000 lost votes.[33] In a later post, he said that his figure of 200,000 was a mistake but stuck to his claim that Advance NZ voters' ballots had been disqualified for writing comments and drawing smiley faces on them.[34]

On 26 October, Te Kahika severed ties with Advance NZ after its election failure, stating that he had decided not to continue with the party.[35][36] Later that day, Te Kahika issued a statement clarifying that he was not severing relations with Advance NZ but was rather restoring its "autonomy." Te Kahika also vowed not to step down as party leader and reiterated his support for Advance NZ. [37]

In mid-November 2020, Newsroom and Newshub reported that Te Kahika and his NZ Public Party were locked in a dispute with Advance NZ over the ownership of party policies and access to funds within an ASB Bank account. On 6 November, Ross sent a letter to Te Kahika and the NZ Public Party claiming that the policies that the parties had co-written were owned and copyrighted by Advance NZ. In addition, the NZ Public Party claimed that the ASB account was a shared account while Advance NZ's lawyer Graeme Edgeler contended that the account belonged to them. Ross has also threatened Te Kahika with legal action in response to the latter's claims that Ross and his party committed theft and misconduct.[38] [39]

On 14 January, Te Kahika led a "freedom rally" opposing the Government's COVID-19 lockdown, 1080 usage, water flouridation, Communist China, the United Nations and expressing support for United States President Donald Trump outside the New Zealand Parliament. The rally was attended by between 100-150 people with Te Kahika being accompanied by private security.[40][41]

Community involvement and public image

Between 2009 and 2010, Te Kahika was involved with Holden's "Driving Towards a Future" programme, which sought to educate young drivers about road safety issues like drink driving, speeding and personal responsibility.[42][43] Between August and October 2011, Te Kahika led a music tour to help The Salvation Army raise funds for families affected by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.[12] In October 2019, Te Kahika organised a special benefit concert to raise support for Auckland's homeless community called the "Blues For the Homeless," which played in Milford.[18]

Until late August 2020, Te Kahika also served as an ambassador for the anti-domestic violence charity White Ribbons. Following his controversial remarks about COVID-19 and other issues, White Ribbons severed relations with Te Kahika on the grounds that his remarks undermined the trust's evidence-based approach. This suspension accompanied an Advance NZ/NZ Public Party video alleging that the New Zealand Government had passed legislation forcing people to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Te Kahika defended his remarks and stance, claiming that the Government was corrupt and that COVID-19 was "nothing worse than a flu." Te Kahika also alleged that he was the target of an international assassin.[44][45]

As leader of the NZ Public Party, Te Kahika has advocated on behalf of a woman known as "L.K.," who was imprisoned in late August after she and her children breached managed isolation in Hamilton to attend her husband's funeral. Te Kahika described her as a "brave and courageous woman" who had "touched" his heart through her experience. He also claimed that he had lobbied the Government into releasing her after seven days.[29]

Views and positions

According to University of Otago theologian Deane Galbraith, Te Kahika's conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and the New World Order is rooted in evangelical Christian End Times theology. Te Kahika's opposition to the alleged "New World Order" has led him to support US President Donald Trump.[46]

In mid October 2020, Te Kahika made remarks in a Facebook Live video dating back to June 2020 criticising the formation of Israel and propagating conspiracy theories related to the Rothschild family and Jewish control over the global financial system. The New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses, Jewish spiritual leader Yaakov Brown, sociologist Paul Spoonley, and historian Sheree Trotter have criticised Te Kahika for promoting anti-Semitism.[47][48]

Notes and references
  1. "False Profit". Stuff. 12 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. Dinsdale, Mike (27 September 2019). "Whangārei bluesman Billy TK Jnr to play with Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. "Billy TK Jr and Chicago blues legends plan cultural exchange". Te Ao – Maori News. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. "The conspiracists; election: How the farthest fringes of politics are making a play for the centre". Stuff. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. Peters, Mark (8 July 2020). "Global 'plandemic'". Gisborne Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. Daalder, Marc (9 September 2020). "Have Covid-19 conspiracy theories evolved?". Newsroom.
  7. Braae, Alex (3 August 2020). "The Bulletin: The rapid rise to prominence of Billy Te Kahika Jr". The Spinoff. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. Thompson Fuller, Taylor (30 July 2020). "Misleading claim spreads online that New Zealand has authorised troops to enter homes to enforce COVID-19 quarantine". AFP. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. Braae, Alex (3 August 2020). "The Bulletin: The rapid rise to prominence of Billy Te Kahika Jr". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  10. Beal, Sonia (18 January 2013). "'Maori Hendrix' to play Picton". Marlborough Express. Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  11. "NZPP Executive Board". New Zealand Public Party. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  12. Timoti, Rani (22 September 2011). "Singing the blues for Christchurch". Norwest News; Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  13. "Billy TK Jnr and Irish vocalist Ronan Kavanagh to rock Northland on summer tour". The Northern Advocate. The New Zealand Herald. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  14. Van Beynen, Martin (5 August 2020). "Doubts about Billy Te Kahika Jr's military and police background claims". Stuff. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  15. Dinsdale, Mark (5 July 2016). "Musician's idea hits right note". The Northern Advocate. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  16. Paula Penfold and Louisa Cleave (12 October 2020). "Election 2020: Billy Te Kahika campaigns on truth. But does he live by it?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  17. "Guitar heroes Billy TK and Billy TK Jnr to play together in Northland". The Northern Advocate. The New Zealand Herald. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  18. "Billy TK Jnr takes on the street blues". Waatea News.com. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  19. "New Zealand Public Party kicks off". Māori Television. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  20. "Jami-Lee Ross' newly formed alliance with NZ Public Party aims to repeal Govt's Covid-19 Response Bill". 1 News. 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. "Ex-National MP Jami-Lee Ross joins forces with controversial party in hope of forming a new Alliance party". The New Zealand Herald. 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  22. Rachel Sadler (26 July 2020). "NZ Election 2020: New Zealand Public Party's policies". Newshub. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  23. "Public Party praying for electoral lifeline". Waatea News. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  24. 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 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  25. Marc Daalder (26 July 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross hitches wagon to conspiracy theorists". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  26. Vance, Andrea (1 August 2020). "Fringe party leader alleges campaign of harassment by Billy TK supporters". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  27. Pearse, Adam (13 August 2020). "Covid 19 coronavirus: Lockdown protest stops traffic in Whangārei". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  28. "Component party recorded for The Advance New Zealand Party". Electoral Commission. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  29. "Advance Party and crowd rallies against Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns". New Zealand Herald. 12 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  30. Marc Daalder (16 October 2020). "Billy TK paid $1000 a month for interviews with conspiracy theorist". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  31. "Te Tai Tokerau - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  32. "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  33. Burrows, Matt (19 October 2020). "Electoral Commission rubbishes Billy Te Kahika's claims Advance NZ a victim of 'rigged election', 'disqualified votes'". Newshub. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  34. Burrows, Matt (20 October 2020). "NZ Election 2020: Billy Te Kahika Jr admits '200,000 disqualified vote' figure was nonsense, doubles down on debunked 'smiley face' theory". Newshub. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  35. Orsman, Bernard (26 October 2020). "Billy Te Kahika quits Advance NZ party". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  36. "Billy Te Kahika quits Advance NZ party". Newshub. 26 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  37. Orsman, Bernard (26 October 2020). "Billy Te Kahika quits Advance NZ party". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  38. Jennings, Mark (17 November 2020). "Jami-Lee and Billy's divorce: Who gets the money?". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  39. Burrows, Matt (18 November 2020). "Jami-Lee Ross, Billy Te Kahika locked in ugly money dispute after Advance NZ's split from Public Party". Newshub. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  40. Walls, Jason (14 January 2021). "Police keeping a close eye on controversial Billy TK 'freedom rally' outside Beehive". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  41. "Billy Te Kahika spreads Covid-19 misinformation at Parliament rally". Radio New Zealand. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  42. Neale, Imogen (29 May 2009). "Drive to survive". Manukau Courier. Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  43. Williams, Nicola (9 April 2010). "Horror crash drives campaign". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  44. Weekes, John (28 August 2020). "Billy TK Junior terminated as White Ribbon ambassador after complaints". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  45. "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.
  46. Galbraith, Deane (24 November 2020). "How Billy TK is using the far right". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  47. "A Darker Truth: The anti-Semitism behind Billy Te Kahika's conspiracy". Stuff. 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  48. Cumin, David (26 September 2020). "The Israel Report – Live – The Voters' Guide Part 2". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
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