Internet entrepreneur and wanted man Kim Dotcom has launched a political party to contest this year’s New Zealand parliamentary elections.

Mr Dotcom announced the establishment of the Internet Party today, saying he has formed the front to push for new internet privacy laws to prevent government and corporate spying.

Faster internet for all New Zealanders will be another of the new party’s platforms.

Reports say the New Zealand election looks likely to happen in October or November this year.

The party founder cannot actually stand for parliament as he is no longer a New Zealand citizen, but the Electoral Commission has allowed him to act as the party's leader.

The owner of former file-sharing site MegaUpload has been campaigning for better protection online, after an FBI-ordered raid by New Zealand police on his mansion near Auckland last year.

Mr Dotcom filed a case against the New Zealand government for their handling of the raid, which it turned out was based on illegal search warrants and unlawful spying by government agencies.

The United States Government is still seeking to extradite Mr Dotcom on a string of copyright charges, but it has been made more difficult since their evidence-gathering raid was proven to be illegal.