Billy Te Kahika faces deception and electoral charges

By RNZ

Former New Zealand Public Party leader Billy Te Kahika is facing deception and electoral charges.

The matter was briefly heard over audio-visual link at the Auckland District Court today, where Te Kahika's interim name suppression lapsed.

Te Kahika was accused of filing a false candidate donations return, filing a false candidate expenses return, and failing to retain records verifying the return of candidate donations and election expenses under the Electoral Act.

He also faced charges relating to obtaining $5000 by deception and causing Michael Stuart Kelly a loss of $10,000 under the Crimes Act.

The alleged offending occurred between July 2020 to February 2021, according to charging documents obtained by RNZ.

Te Kahika faces a trial by jury.

The charges follow the Electoral Commission considering a complaint about Te Kahika and the New Zealand Public Party in September 2020. 

The investigation was later dropped.

RNZ