Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere says Tāmaki Makaurau MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp worked right up until her unexpected death yesterday morning.
The 50-year-old first-term MP had been battling kidney disease and had been on dialysis while she waited for a replacement.
Tamihere told Breakfast this morning that Kemp had been working until around 9.30pm on Wednesday evening before undergoing dialysis and going to bed.
“She didn’t wake up,” he said.
Tamihere said Kemp’s final hours showed her dedication to serving the people she was elected to represent.
“If you’ve got whānau on dialysis, you’ll understand that it’s extraordinarily taxing and energy levels do wane.
“She wanted to be given the opportunity to see whether she could still perform well for our people. And she did, right up to the end.”
Others within the party shared this sentiment.
Kemp had been on dialysis as she battled kidney disease. (Source: 1News)
“She was never going to allow this illness to define her. Tarsh, right to the bitter end, died as she lived, serving our people,” co-leader Rawiri Waititi said.
“Her belief in herself, and in our people and their ability to rise above the difficulties that we’re in… And shine a light.”
Tamihere said the past 24 hours had been “tough” because “we’re a very close group”.
“And we’ve had to come to some extraordinarily difficult moments and challenges.”
The MP died yesterday at the age of 50. (Source: 1News)
He said it was “soul-destroying” to lose a colleague.
“We were all taken aback by this.”
Te Pāti Māori MPs travelled to Auckland yesterday, so they could be with Kemp and her whānau. Tamihere said it had been “elevating” to grieve together.
Kemp’s body arrived at Hoani Waititi Marae this morning, where she will lie in state “for all to come and mourn with us”.
Her body will then be taken to Manurewa Marae at 9am before departing at 11am. Her body will then be taken to Ōpaea Marae in Taihape before 5pm to lie in state.
A funeral service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, July 1 at Ōpaea Marae, followed by a burial service.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including wild weather hitting the country, why a judge sided with Meta over AI, and North Korea’s new tourist destination. (Source: 1News)
