Te Pāti Māori May Expel Two MPs Amid Deepening Internal Feud
Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere says the party will soon decide whether to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, as internal divisions threaten to split the movement apart.
Speaking to RNZ, Tamihere said the matter would be discussed “very shortly” by the party’s national council, referring to the two MPs for Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Tonga.
In a brief response, Kapa-Kingi dismissed Tamihere’s authority on the issue. “Taitokerau will decide, not him,” she told the Herald. Ferris has yet to comment publicly.
The latest escalation follows weeks of infighting within Te Pāti Māori, which has included accusations of autocratic leadership, assault allegations, misuse of parliamentary funds, and the controversial suspension of Kapa-Kingi.
In a social media post on Monday, Tamihere accused both MPs of “greed, avarice and entitlement,” calling on them to “do the honourable thing” and resign from the party.
Kapa-Kingi has rejected her suspension as illegitimate, while Ferris has publicly supported a vote of no confidence in Tamihere’s leadership.
The turmoil has grown so severe that the National Iwi Chairs Forum has stepped in to mediate. Spokesperson Bayden Barber is expected to meet today with Tamihere and party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer in an effort to calm tensions.
Tamihere told RNZ the suspension was meant to “send a message” but admitted it had not repaired divisions within the party. When asked if he wanted the two MPs to remain in Te Pāti Māori, he replied: “Not if they continue to be rogue.”
Via RNZ