NZ First Takanini Candidate Elliot Ikilei adds promoter statement after missing disclosure flagged

New Zealand First candidate Elliot Ikilei has added a promoter statement to his social media profile after questions were raised about the disclosure being absent.

Screenshots of Ikilei’s X profile show his biography initially contained personal information and his South Auckland location but did not display a promoter statement.

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thisquality contacted Ikilei publicly to question why the disclosure was missing but did not receive a response.

Image: The comparison image shows Elliot Ikilei’s X profile before and after the update. The revised profile includes the promoter statement: “Authorised by H Howard, 91 Makino Road, Feilding.” (Supplied / X)

Instead, the profile bio was updated within three hours, after being questioned, to include: “Authorised by H Howard, 91 Makino Road, Feilding.”

New Zealand First announced in June that Ikilei would stand for the party at the 2026 general election.

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He is the party’s candidate in Auckland’s Takanini electorate.

Image: Concerns were raised over a missing promoter statement on NZ First candidate Billy Brown’s X profile. The profile was later updated after the omission was flagged. (File / Shedlife NZ YouTube)

The change follows a similar case involving New Zealand First’s Rotorua Candidate Billy Brown, who added a promoter statement to his X profile after the missing disclosure was publicly flagged by thisquality.

Brown updated his profile in under 24 hours after the Electoral Commission responded to the concerns on X and directed members of the public to its complaints process.

Promoter statements identify the person responsible for publishing or promoting election advertising and provide contact information for that promoter.

The Electoral Commission says every election advertisement must clearly display a promoter statement. The requirement applies at all times, not only during the regulated campaign period.

Personal political views published online without payment are excluded from the definition of election advertising, but material that can reasonably be regarded as encouraging voters to support or oppose a candidate or party may fall under the rules.

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The Commission accepts complaints about missing promoter statements and other possible breaches of election advertising requirements. It can refer suspected offences to police but does not prosecute cases itself.

Failing to include a promoter statement when one is legally required is an offence and can result in a fine of up to $40,000.

Campaign rules apply equally to candidates and political parties across the political spectrum.

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