Baker, a businessman who stood in the Waimakariri seat, was particularly disappointed in its exclusion from the television multi-party debate because of its low polling - a decision which it unsuccessfully challenged in court.
Baker conceded that the entry of Advance NZ into the election contest probably damaged New Conservative as the two parties were campaigning on similar issues, in particular what they saw as an erosion of democracy during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Act Party's surge in popularity also damaged New Conservative's prospects.
Baker said his party would not be deterred by its latest defeat, and would compete again in 2023.
He said the party had rebuilt from the Colin Craig era, which ended in controversy when the former founder, leader and backer resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. It stood candidates in all 72 electorates.
"We've built, we've grown, this has been a great hit-out," he said.
The party wanted electoral reforms to break up the two-party monopoly in New Zealand politics. Changes could include lowering the party vote threshold from 5 per cent to 3 or 4 per cent, introducing a Single Transferable Vote system to reduce the wasted vote, and giving all political parties equal state funding rather than proportional.
Since Craig left, the party has attempted to reinvent itself. It moved further right on the political spectrum by delving into culture wars more typically associated with American politics - abortion, guns, gender identity and free speech.
The party ran on a platform of traditional family values, longer sentences for violent crimes, introducing trades training for Year 9s, and scrapping the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Baker said earlier this week that he intended to stay on as leader if his party was not elected.
"I'm keen to do it but it's a democratic party and they'll decide if I've done a good job."
