Elliot Ikilei

Elliot Ewen Pasione Ikilei (born 25 June 1977) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the New Conservative Party and has contested two general elections without success. He was the New Conservative Party's deputy leader from 2017 to 2020, and as its leader for six weeks in 2020 before announcing on 31 December that he had resigned the leadership.

Elliot Ikilei
3rd Leader of New Conservative
In office
19 November 2020 – 30 December 2020
Preceded byLeighton Baker
2nd Deputy Leader of New Conservative
In office
24 January 2017 – 19 November 2020
LeaderLeighton Baker
Preceded byChristine Rankin
Succeeded byVictoria O'Brien
Personal details
Born (1977-06-25) 25 June 1977[1]
Political partyNew Conservative
Spouse(s)Eona Ikilei
Children
  • Jeslyn Ikilei
  • Eli Ikilei

Personal life and career outside of politics

Elliot Ikilei was born on 25 June 1977[2] and grew up in the Auckland suburbs of Point England, Glen Innes, and Mount Wellington. He spent his teenage years in Hamilton.[2] According to Ikilei, he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction during his youth before undergoing a "born again" experience and converting to Christianity at the age of 25.[3]

Ikilei has worked as a youth worker in Auckland's Flat Bush and Botany Downs suburbs.[3] Ikilei currently lives in Papakura in South Auckland.[2][4] He is married to Eona,[2] a Singaporean, and the couple have two children named Jeslyn and Eli.[3]

Political activity

2017 general election

During the lead-up to the 2017 general election, Elliott Ikilei had been designated as the Conservative candidate for a cross-party debate in March 2017 organised by the University of Auckland's Debating Society. However, the Conservatives were uninvited when the society decided to limit participants to parties that were represented in the New Zealand Parliament.[5] At a subsequent debate held at the University of Auckland, Ikilei advocated a pro-life stance on abortion and supported citizen-initiated referendums.[2]

In June 2017, Ikilei was appointed as the Conservative Party's deputy leader and nominated as the party's candidate for the Manurewa electorate;[6] he won 342 votes and came last of six candidates.[7] The Conservatives overall performed poorly during the election, winning only 0.2% of the party vote (6,253 votes) and did not win any seats in Parliament.[8]

Activity between elections

After the Conservatives rebranded themselves as the New Conservatives,[9] Ikilei defended controversial far-right Canadians Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux, who had been denied public speaking venues during their tour of Auckland in July 2018.[10][11] In August 2018, Ikilei seconded former National and ACT parties leader Don Brash during a debate on free speech and "political correctness" at the University of Auckland, which attracted the attention of protesters.[12][13]

In October 2018, Ikilei was designated as the party's candidate for the scheduled Botany by-election,[14] triggered by Jami-Lee Ross' resignation from the National Party. However, the by-election did not go ahead since Ross opted to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.[15]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Ikilei attended an anti-lockdown "liberty march" in Auckland's Queen Street, which attracted hundreds of demonstrators including Advance New Zealand party co-leader Jami-Lee Ross.[16]

2020 general election

In April 2020, the New Conservative Party announced Ikilei as their candidate for the 2020 New Zealand general election for the new electorate of Takanini (at the time proposed to be called "Flat Bush") that had been created following population changes.[17][18] He campaigned on increasing support for neighbourhood police teams in Takanini and improving local road infrastructure.[19]

At the election, held on 17 October, Ikilei came fourth in Takinini with 939 votes.[20] The New Conservatives received 1.5% of the party vote (42,615 votes), below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.[21] As such, Ikelei again did not enter Parliament.

Following the election results, Ikilei said that the party would be contest the next general election scheduled for 2023. Ikilei attributed the party's failure to enter Parliament to factors including insufficient media coverage of minor parties and shortcomings in the New Conservative's campaign messaging such as their Māori language policies.[22]

Leadership of the party

In November 2020, the party's board voted for Ikelei to be its leader, replacing Leighton Baker.[23][24] Ikelei said that there would not be significant changes to the party's policy, but he would be taking a "more aggressive and confrontational approach to presentation style."[23][24]

On 31 December, six weeks into the role, Ikilei announced his resignation as leader on Twitter.[25] However, as of 5 January 2021, the party's website still lists Ikelei as its leader.[26]

Political views

Ikilei is socially conservative, opposing abortion and taking a traditional stance on family, law and order, and welfare.[2][9] In April 2019, Ikilei was temporarily suspended from Twitter for tweeting "'Trans women' are men with dysphoria/disorder, to be treated with compassion and tolerance"; a remark which many regarded as transphobic.[9][27] Ikilei has defended controversial Australian rugby player Israel Folau's opposition to homosexuality.[13]

Ikilei has described free speech as a cornerstone of Western culture. He has also advocated "tough on crime" policies and opposed race-based policies including Māori seats.[28] In August 2019, Ikilei welcomed a deal between the Māori tribe Te Kawerau ā Maki and Fletcher Building over the Ihumātao land dispute.[29] He has also criticised China's Hong Kong national security law.[30]

References
  1. "Compare the candidates for Takanini - NZ Election 2020". Policy.nz. The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. "Getting Candid with ... Elliot Ikilei". Stuff. 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  3. Master, Farida (23 June 2020). "From darkness to light: journey of youth worker turned politician". Times Online. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  4. "Elliot Ikilei". New Conservatives. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. "University Debate Running Scared of Conservatives!". Scoop.co.nz. 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  6. "Deputy Leader for Manurewa Candidate". Conservative Party of New Zealand. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. "Manurewa – Official Result – 2017 General Election". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  8. "2017 General Election – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  9. Braae, Alex (25 July 2019). "NZ's resurgent New Conservatives: riding the culture wars to the 2020 election". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  10. Ikilei, Elliot (8 July 2019). "A Line Has Been Crossed". New Conservatives. Scoop. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  11. Chiang, Jessie (14 July 2018). "Auckland free speech rally over controversial speakers draws crowds". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  12. "Protesters disrupt free-speech debate when Don Brash takes stage". New Zealand Herald. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  13. Chapman, Madaleine (10 August 2018). "And the winner is: Don Brash, by a mile". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  14. "Elliot Ikilei to Contest Botany for New Conservative". New Conservatives. Scoop (website). 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  15. "Burning Bridges: Simon says Ross 'lying, leaking, lashing out'". Otago Daily Times. 16 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  16. "Hundreds protest against lockdowns, vaccines while unmasked in Auckland". 1 News. 29 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  17. "Elliot Ikilei Will Stand For Flat Bush". Scoop. 9 April 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  18. Keogh, Brittany (27 July 2020). "Election 2020: Who's who in Auckland's most hotly contested races". Stuff. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  19. Keogh, Brittany (6 August 2020). "Election 2020: Doctor, businesswoman among candidates for new Takanini seat". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  20. "Takanini - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  21. "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  22. Braae, Alex (22 October 2020). "A tale of two minor parties: Lessons for 2023 for TOP and the New Conservatives". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  23. "Leighton Baker steps down as New Conservative leader". 1 News. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  24. Braae, Alex (19 November 2020). "Coup Conservatives? Leader ousted to make way for 'outspoken' Elliot Ikilei". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  25. @ElliotIkilei (31 December 2020). "Resignation" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. "New Conservative Party | New Zealand". New Conservative NZ. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  27. de Boer, Dieuwe (29 April 2019). "New Conservative's Elliot Ikilei Suspended From Twitter". Right Minds. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  28. Miller, Corazon (11 July 2020). "New Conservatives defend Western culture as 'greatest in the world', warn NZ 'sliding toward socialism'". Newshub. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  29. Ikilei, Elliot (1 August 2020). "Elliot Ikilei: What does Ihumātao say about our values?". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  30. "New Conservative: Hong Kong situation requires clear NZ stance". Times Online. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
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