Jake Bezzant’s business partner in parking firm Invisible Urban Charging has gone to ground as new information about the failed political candidate emerged yesterday.
Bezzant quit as a member of the National party after his former girlfriend Tarryn Flintoft said in a podcast he had been impersonating her online without her consent and soliciting images from other social media users.
Flintoft took the allegations to the police but they said the law didn’t protect her so they could not move forward with an investigation.
Bezzant did not respond to BusinessDesk’s request for comment but told NZ Herald there was no truth to the contents of the podcast.
“Personal relationship break-ups sometimes get messy. Two sides to every story. There is more than just her and I involved so I am going to respect that and so I am not going to discuss it. I am not going to put myself forward for candidacy at this point. Really enjoying being back in the private sector,” he said in a statement.
Invisible Urban
The former Upper Harbour candidate had in March raised $1.33 million for Invisible Urban Charging from the public using PledgeMe.
His business partner and fellow director Nigel Broomhall declined to comment when approached by BusinessDesk this morning.
The company claims to provide a turn-key electric vehicle charging solution for parking operators.
Investor Chris Harris, who recently sold game development company Ninja Kiwi for $203 million, said he hadn’t heard anything from the company about what would happen with Bezzant, who is a director and appears in promotional materials.
Harris, who holds a 2.5% stake, added he would be “deeply concerned if the allegations were true”.
The tech entrepreneur added it would be disappointing if Bezzant had to step down as it appeared he had the right international experience for the job.
BusinessDesk revealed Bezzant’s business background in September ahead of last year’s election.
He left his job at Parking Sense after disagreements over "fantasy" multi-million dollar contracts and his claims that he founded the company, a claim disputed by Paul Collins, who Companies Office records show as a founding shareholder.
Bezzant lost the safe National seat to Labour’s Vanushi Walters who got 17,573 votes ahead of Bezzant’s 15,181, the seat having previously been held by former National party deputy leader Paula Bennett.
