In a strange twist of fate, this may yet leave former leader Colin Craig in a prime seat to regain power of his party.
Mr Craig has been involved in a bizarre set of allegations and counter claims during the past week and a bit as he continues to front media conferences and undertake interviews about his dealings with his former press secretary, Rachel MacGregor.
At one stage, Mr Craig fronted a media conference accompanied by his wife, who professed her support and love for her husband - usually a sure sign of things amiss.
Mr Craig has thrust himself into New Zealand politics, spending about $4 million since founding the Conservative Party in 2011.
He is an odd character in the political world. On one level, he can be charming, engaging and open.
On another, he was heard uttering strange statements about events in history which have long been proven correct.
Ms MacGregor claims Mr Craig is trying to frame her as a mistress and has asked to be released from a confidentiality agreement so that she can go public with details about her time working with him.
Mr Craig on Monday stood beside his wife to rebut swirling allegations of sexual harassment involving Ms MacGregor. He denied claims of sexual harassment but said behaviour between the two of them was ''inappropriate''.
Despite a Human Rights Commission confidentiality agreement, Mr Craig seemingly feels able to continually make comments on the day-to-day developments in what has become a somewhat ridiculous state of affairs.
Not for the first time has someone used money to form a political party and buy their way into Parliament. While internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom could not become an MP at the last election, that did not stop him pouring millions into trying to help Internet Mana win votes at the last election.
And while the Conservatives fell tantalising short of the votes needed to enter Parliament, Internet Mana was well beaten.
The reality, as has also been quoted elsewhere, is the Conservative Party is Mr Craig, and Mr Craig is the Conservative Party.
Without him, there is no party. He is now writing to grass roots supporters of the party asking for their forgiveness as he tries to rebuild his political career.
What must have come as a shock to Mr Craig was the reaction to him appearing in a sauna in a light-hearted television interview.
What has happened since the interview was broadcast is staggering, with details of Ms MacGregor's sudden departure from his campaign team two days out from the election last year suddenly re-emerging in the public arena.
As a businessman, Mr Craig must have thought a deal was a deal.
But as a politician, he is yet to learn parts of his life will always be public.
Support for the Conservative Party is expected to have slumped in the past week, something one-trick pony parties often experience in New Zealand.
United Future, Act New Zealand, Internet Mana and the Progressive Party have all felt the venom of voters.
Before them, several Christian parties failed to gather enough votes because they were seen as single-issue vehicles.
What happens next will be of interest to Prime Minister John Key and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
Both will have an interest in the voters previously supportive of Mr Craig. Messrs Peters and Craig duelled throughout the election campaign as they tried to attract voters with similar values - the grumpy grey vote.
Usually, disaffected male voters want to cast a protest vote to send a message to the major parties - National and Labour.
Support for the Conservatives in the east and north of Auckland will switch to National rather than New Zealand First.
NZ First may, though, pick up support from voters in other areas not willing to support National.
Whatever happens, Mr Craig's future attempts to become a political force in New Zealand appear likely to be disregarded and he could even become an object of ridicule.
It seems the best advice he can follow is to return to his lucrative career in property development and ownership, and keep his political proclivities private.
