The 2023 General Election is fast approaching, bringing with it new challenges to Aotearoa New Zealand in a “post-pandemic” world. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a lightning rod for extremism, with misinformation spurring radicalisation of a small proportion of the population. Many of the groups formed from their “shared cause” are organised. They are standing parties, candidates, or supporting efforts of those with anti-democratic values. We’re already seeing attempts at party infiltration, political pandering to conspiracy theorists, meeting disruptions, misinformation spreading, and plays for media attention. This will be ramping up in the lead-up to the election.
We all have a part to play in ensuring free and fair elections through encouraging factual information and evidence-based debate as a basis for policy. Read our articles, pre-bunks of election misinformation, and useful resources to combat harmful conspiracy theories in the 2023 election season.
Responsible Reporting on False Information. A new resource with tips for how media professionals can minimise narrative hijacking by conspiracy theorists and extremists, and maximise their ability to report on important events. Download now.
The differences between New Zealand's elections and the United States are vast. Some people in New Zealand are recycling America's false "stolen election" conspiracy theories here when it just doesn't make sense.
Co-governance between Māori and the Crown has a long history in this country. So why has it been turned into an election issue for conspiracy theorist parties and an apocalyptic vision by an end-times preacher?
A FACT member ventured into the rosy mirror world of the documentary River of Freedom to see what has been airbrushed from the New Zealand Parliament Occupation. The results is a distorted and aggrandised piece of propaganda, removed from the reality we lived through.
All of the policies demanded by parties seeking the "freedom movement" vote are already government policy, except stopping the vaccine rollout. So why are they calling for that and why do they want an "independent inquiry"?
CW: In this article we will be diving into false and harmful conspiracy theories about the LQBTQIA+ community. We endeavour to give a quick explanation of the tactics used and correct misinformation. Let us know if you think we could address ideas in this article better. We like better.
It's highly illegal, but what else is stopping people voting twice in the 2023 General Election? It's gonna waste both votes. And the safeguard is good old paper records. Read on to find out more.
There's a lot to be said about free speech as an important cornerstone of a free and fair society. But does that mean that all speech is protected? Well, no. Some speech can incite harm on our community. Find out why conspiracy theorists are using this topic as a policy platform.
Strange isn't it, that conspiracy theorist parties this election all have policies about reviewing or leaving international bodies like the UN, WEF and WHO. It's a tale as old as time, misinterpreting non-binding agreements as sinister "globalist" plots to control you. Let's dive in to the origins of these unfounded fears.
For the past few years minor parties in NZ have taken broadcasters to court over not being included in their televised debates. We’ve dug into the history of the challenges, and why we think cases bought by this year's minor parties won’t win.
The government was careful to maintain the rule of law during the pandemic. It allowed itself to be challenged in court, and accepted rulings against it. That seems like the opposite of tyranny. But the conspiracists belief that they are fighting “tyranny” is one of the reasons you’re hearing so much about NZBORA.
NZ politicians are selected by their party and elected by us, not by a global cabal of "them". Quite simple really, but gird your loins for a long explanation of this conspiratorial thought-terminating cliche and why it's nearly impossible for it to be true.
We count votes by hand in this country, and we count them carefully… but it seems like not everybody knows that. And it’s normal for the final result to change after election night, but not everyone gets that either.
The law requires papers to be destroyed a few months after the election – but that’s for a good reason, and it doesn’t make fraud easier. We get to the nitty gritty of why.
