Te Pāti Māori has gone on the offensive against a former ally and leader of the hīkoi movement, revealing security staff at Parliament allegedly accused him of using offensive, racist and intimidating language towards them.
In an email to members, obtained by 1News and other media, the party gave a scathing response to claims from Eru Kapa-Kingi last week that the party was operating a “dictatorship model”. It denied claims of a toxic leadership style and made allegations of its own against him.
In the message, Te Pāti Māori said Eru Kapa-Kingi’s claims are “part of a larger issue with his behavior”.
It also provided a letter which appeared to be from Parliamentary Services detailing claims of abusive behaviour by Kapa-Kingi after he allegedly tried to skip security checks at Parliament.
That letter, which has not been independently verified, says: “Eru mentioned a few times during the interaction ‘Do you know who I am?’ ‘Do you know who my family is?’ ‘You are going to be so embarrassed and f***ed when you find out’.”
Party leaks letter accusing MP’s son of ‘racist’, ‘vulgar’ abuse, watch on TVNZ+
Eru Kapa-Kingi, one of the lead organisers of the Toitū Te Tiriti movement which led the hīkoi protests to Parliament last year, is the son of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, Te Pāti Māori’s MP for Te Tai Tokerau. She was demoted from her position as Matarau or party whip last month.
The party addressed this in the email it sent last nght, saying the demotion was made due to “clear tactical decisions made to support her run in the 2026 election”.
It also discussed claims Mariameno Kapa-Kingi allegedly mismanaged funds, with a potential large overspend.
She addressed those claims last week, telling 1News: “There was an adjustment and I managed that within the rules.” She said there were “privacy issues” and refused to give a figure of the overspend, but said, “it’s certainly not” $200,000 as had been rumoured online.
Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Parker said outside Parliament this morning that the email was intended for the party membership not a wider audience.
1News approached party president John Tamihere for comment on the allegations as he entered Parliament this morning. “It’s a great day to be Māori”, he said.
1News sought response to claims made against Eru Kapa-Kingi in the party’s email. Eru Kapa-Kingi said on social media he was not responding to media about the claims but would be putting out a statement.
Later, in a post to Instagram, he said he had joined Te Pāti Māori as a young, passionate man, with the belief he could create a “better world for our people”.
“Instead, I learnt a long and hard lesson – power can truly corrupt people you once looked up to.
“Regardless of the noise, my whānau have and always will be, on the ground, kaupapa people. Those who know us know there is no question of integrity, and we will continue to be side by side with our people.
“Kia hīkoi tonu tātou, āke āke āke (let’s keep walking, forever and ever).”
Following the release of the letter, the party’s Te Tai Tonga electorate called for a vote of no confidence in party president John Tamihere and its national executive.
TPM’s co-leader refused to answer a question from 1News’ Maiki Sherman during a news conference about the party’s “reset”. (Source: 1News)
Former party figure
Eru Kapa-Kingi was the party’s former vice-president and a 2023 list candidate.
Earlier this month, he attempted to distance the Toitū Te Tiriti movement from Te Pāti Māori.
He attacked a “false ego-driven narrative” within the party that it had ownership over Māori electorate seats.
“Power doesn’t sit with one party – it sits with the people,” he said.
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi told 1News last week the demotion had been “disappointing”.
Asked whether she agreed with her son’s allegations, she responded it was “time for change” within the party.
Party leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi refused to address allegations of a dictatorial leadership model when 1News political editor Maiki Sherman put it to them at a media stand-up held after the party’s “reset” last week.
Waititi pulled Ngarewa-Packer away and abruptly ended the session, saying: “Kia ora Maiki, thank you. You fellas can thank Maiki for that one.”
