Election result claims

We've talked about the local body elections over the past couple of months, and now the results are in. Local freedom, anti-vax and conspiracy theory group Voices for Freedom tried to sway the elections by encouraging their members and supporters to stand but hide their affiliations.

Mark reported last week that it would seem that they were largely unsuccessful, and that the media, supported by research from FACT Aotearoa, did a good job of exposing some candidates unsavoury and unusual beliefs and agendas. It seems that a handful of people with conspiracy theory views have been successful at making their way into elected positions, mostly in rural areas.

But, Voices for Freedom are now claiming that they've had great success (“very very good”), with their latest email claiming that 150 of their people have been elected, including 4 mayors and 2 deputy mayors. They don't name any of these people, and I guess there's a pretty wish-washy definition of who fits the bill - whether somebody is a full-on conspiracy theorist, or just friendly to some of their ideas.

It remains to be seen whether any full-on conspiracy theory nutcases have actually made it to positions of influence.

Of course, the Voices for Freedom grift continues with appeals for donations from their members. And, as I've said before, their claims to be transparent about funding have yet to materialise into actual disclosures.