"Freedom movement" possibly bites dust

[Lilith7]

The Democracy NZ party having a bit of trouble.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...ate-exodus

"The fledgling political party led by former National MP Matt King has lost one-third of its announced candidates over a dispute with party leadership.

Stuff understands at least five candidates - Lee Smith, Steve Cranston, Dr Matt Shelton, Kirsten Murfitt, and Bill Dyett - are no longer with DemocracyNZ.

Their candidate profiles have been scrubbed from the party’s website.

It suggests political peril for the party King formed late last year, after he resigned from National over its support for vaccine mandates.

Its polling has oscillated between 1-2%, well short of the 5% threshold, meaning its fortunes likely rest on King’s candidacy in the Northland electorate which he won for National in 2017.

It is understood that the exodus came after Cranston – who is also a prominent member of Groundswell NZ – was fired by the board on Saturday after expressing discontent with the actions of senior party figures. That resulted in the other candidates quitting in protest.

DemocracyNZ has advertised its political platform as “freedom, family and farming”. Much of its rhetoric concerns opposition to the pandemic response and climate change regulations.

It had been seen as the leading light for the so-called freedom movement, which is split between various parties, including the Brian Tamaki and Sue Grey-led Freedoms NZ and the recently announced Leighton Baker party."

They were unlikely to pick up many votes & this may mean even fewer for them if they look so shaky at this stage.