The Rise of the ‘Influencer Candidate’ in Modern Politics
The traditional political resume is evolving. We are seeing a shift where candidates are no longer just career politicians or policy experts, but individuals with established personal brands. A prime example is Michel Mulipola, the Green Party candidate for the Māngere seat.
Mulipola brings a unique blend of professional wrestling, comic book artistry—including work with Marvel Comics—and a significant social media presence. With an Instagram account, “bloodysamoan,” boasting over 20,000 followers and 2,800 posts, he represents a new breed of candidate who enters the political arena with a pre-built digital community.
This trend suggests that future campaigns will rely less on traditional party machinery and more on the “influencer” model, where candidates use their existing reach to bypass traditional media and communicate directly with voters in areas like South Auckland.
The Digital Paper Trail: Vetting in the Age of ‘Strong Takes’
As candidates with active social media histories enter politics, the “digital paper trail” has become a primary battlefield. The recent controversy surrounding Mulipola highlights how a single post can ignite a national political firestorm.
Mulipola faced severe criticism from Act MP Simon Court after a now-deleted post made light of the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The post, which featured a cartoon of a bleeding neck, was described by Court as “disgusting” and “vile,” raising questions about whether such content violates the non-violence aspect of the Green Party’s charter.
This reflects a growing trend in political vetting. Opponents are no longer just looking at policy positions; they are scouring years of social media archives for “strong takes” that can be framed as liabilities. For candidates who describe themselves as unafraid to “ruffle feathers,” the challenge lies in transitioning from an activist persona to a representative one.
The Tension Between Personal Brand and Party Kaupapa
One of the most complex trends emerging is the struggle to separate personal views from party identity. Mulipola’s Instagram bio explicitly states that his views are his own, yet as a candidate, those views are inevitably linked to the Green Party.
When the controversy broke, Mulipola noted that he is now “taking into account [the party’s] kaupapa” to avoid distractions from the campaign for progressive change in South Auckland. This tension suggests that future political parties may need to implement stricter social media guidelines or “digital detox” periods for candidates to align their personal brands with the party’s official charter.
Polarization and the ‘Political Assassination’ Narrative
The discourse surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk—described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as a “political assassination”—underscores the deepening polarization of global political rhetoric.
The clash between the Green Party’s progressive goals and the Act Party’s condemnation of “vile views” shows how personal tragedies are quickly absorbed into political warfare. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour’s tribute to Kirk, noting the “bitter irony” of someone promoting free speech losing their life to violence, stands in stark contrast to the “ruffle feathers” approach of modern activists.
Moving forward, we can expect political campaigns to increasingly center on the morality of discourse. The debate is no longer just about what is being said, but how it is said on social media and whether “activist” language is compatible with the decorum of parliamentary representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michel Mulipola?
Michel Mulipola is a Green Party candidate for the Māngere seat, an activist, a professional wrestler, and a comic book artist who has worked with Marvel Comics.
Why was Michel Mulipola criticized?
He was criticized by the Act Party for a now-deleted Instagram post that made light of the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, which critics argued violated the Green Party’s non-violence charter.
How did the Green Party respond to the controversy?
The party’s co-leaders stated that Mulipola’s own statement—where he expressed a desire for a “strong, clean campaign”—covered all the party needed to say on the matter.
What do you think about the intersection of influencer culture and politics? Should a candidate’s past social media “takes” disqualify them from office, or is that just a part of modern activism? Let us know in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more political analysis.
