Te Pāti Māori will gather for its long-awaited Annual General Meeting in Rotorua today, after months of turmoil that led to the expulsion of two of their six MPs.
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi will now attend the full AGM following a high court ruling reinstating her to the party, while Tākuta Ferris remains expelled and won’t be in attendance.
Ferris told RNZ he wasn’t surprised Kapa-Kingi was reinstated, and it was just “the next step in unfolding this big fat mess”.
He said the AGM agenda was “sterile”, suggesting it would be shut down following the updates provided.
In a letter, the former leaders said the turmoil has “tarnished our integrity”. (Source: 1News)
Items on the agenda include updates from the party president, the co-leaders, and the electorates, as well as a financial report, constitution amendments and general business.
Ferris said following the news of Kapa-Kingi’s reinstatement, “you’ve got this whole other conversation that’s going to rear its head tomorrow.”
It also put the membership of the National Council – who made the decision to expel the MPs – “on notice”, Ferris said. He said their conduct will be scrutinised when the whole case is heard in February.
“If it’s not up to standard, well there’ll be consequences.”
On Friday, Justice Paul Radich said there were serious questions to be tried regarding Kapa-Kingi’s expulsion.
In response, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said on Friday she looked forward to hosting party members and “bringing this directly to them”.
The ruling discussed the party’s concerns that reinstating Kapa-Kingi would likely “create extreme tension within Te Pāti Māori’s MPs and leadership”.
MP speaks to media about the party’s tumultuous breakdown, saying those involved on both sides have been in the wrong. (Source: 1News)
Ferris agreed there would be tension, but not only within the parliamentary members of the party.
“There’s going to be resentment and tension from the membership that arrive.”
But he indicated the senior nature of those in attendance would “quell all of that carry on.”
He said there would be “senior Māori leadership” in attendance.
“Those senior leaders are going to show up expecting an open marae-style conversation.
“If they [party leadership] try and run the sterile agenda, that’s just another notch in their belt.”
Fallout continues to spread after the party expelled two dissident MPs (Source: 1News)
He said the wider membership would also want to “say their piece” and if the agenda didn’t allow for that, “then that just won’t be a good look.”
“This ain’t going away until someone shows up to have a proper conversation in a forum of accountability,” said Ferris.
Part of Kapa-Kingi’s application for a temporary injunction had included orders to restrain party president John Tamihere from acting in his role as president because he hadn’t been “validly re-elected”.
While he acknowledged the re-election issue required further consideration, Justice Radich didn’t see it as necessary to preserve her position as party member and the immediate concern of Tamihere chairing the AGM was addressed by the party making an assurance vice-president Fallyn Flavell would now chair instead.
Ngarewa-Packer said in response to the ruling she was pleased the president’s position had been preserved.
The AGM begins on Sunday morning in Rotorua, part of the Waiariki electorate.
By Lillian Hanly of rnz.co.nz
