Election 2026: Former New Conservatives leader standing for NZ First
Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Former New Conservatives leader and member of Hobson Pledge Elliot Ikilei will stand for NZ First at the 2026 general election.
Ikilei has been involved in conservative politics for years having stood for the New Conservatives as leader in 2020.
He went on to become a spokesperson for Hobson’s Pledge.
A statement from NZ First said he advocated for equal citizenship, democratic representation and “one law for all”.
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“He has become a prominent voice surrounding free speech, family values, and national identity in New Zealand.”
The statement said he had spent more than two decades supporting young people through challenges such as family violence, self-harm, abuse, and leadership development.
It said he currently worked in industrial health and safety training.
NZ First said he was of Niuean, Tongan, Māori (Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa), and English heritage, and was born in Palmerston North and raised in Auckland.
Ikilei had been highly critical of the previous Labour Government, particularly its roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.
He had posted on Facebook support for NZ First and its bill to legally define a man and woman in biological terms.
He has made many posts about media, including a post in recent weeks saying “NZ mainstream media is just looking ridiculous at this stage”.