Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross has merged his Advance New Zealand party with the Public Party, in the hope its leader will win the seat of Te Tai Tokerau.
Jami-Lee Ross. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The Botany MP will co-lead the new party with Billy Te Kahika, who will stand in Te Tai Tokerau.
If he wins it, Ross would make it back into Parliament as a list MP under the coat-tail rule, even if he lost Botany.
Ross said Advance New Zealand would repeal the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act and develop a Bill of Rights Parliament couldn't override, as well as removing foreign interference in the politics system and realigning the country towards its traditonal trading powers.
During a rally announcing the party's launch, Ross said no New Zealand leader would stand up to China due to a fear of backlash.
"The number one problem with the establishment parties is that no one wants to stand up to the biggest threat - China," he said, adding that political parties were "addicted to Chinese money".
Ross said Advance New Zealand would suspend the free trade agreement between New Zealand and China within its first three months and would support Hong Kong and Taiwan in seeking independence.