Analysis: Leadership clashes, claims and counter-claims – Re: News’ Māori Specialist Te Ahipourewa Forbes looks at the turbulence engulfing Te Pāti Māori.
Te Pāti Māori has pitched itself as unapologetically Māori, fiercely independent, and politically disruptive. But in recent months, the party’s inner turmoil has splintered what many Māori hoped was a unifying political movement.
In 2023, the party’s growth from two MPs to six after the election was historic. It signalled a surge in support and a renewed appetite for kaupapa Māori politics. But with growth came growing pains.
And then, in June this year, there was the sudden death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp, who had been described by colleagues as the caucus “peacekeeper”.
Her passing was followed by a tense Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in September which saw former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara take the seat.
That win was somewhat tainted by Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris, who drew criticism for “racist” comments toward Labour volunteers.
Later in September, MP for Te Tai Tokerau Mariameno Kapa-Kingi was demoted as the party whip, a move she called “disappointing”. She later spoke of “dysfunction” in the party.
‘Dictatorship’
And the difficult times didn’t stop there. At the start of October, Eru Kapa-Kingi – one of the lead organisers of the Toitū Te Tiriti movement and son of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi – joined the fray.
He labelled Te Pāti Māori’s leadership style a “dictatorship” and said his movement, which led the hīkoi protests to Parliament last year, would cut ties with the party.
The fallout deepened further when Te Pāti Māori accused Mariameno Kapa-Kingi of breaching budget protocols and internal conduct. She denies wrongdoing and has called the process “unjust”.
Te Pāti Māori hit back, releasing a letter accusing Eru Kapa-Kingi of abusing Parliament staff. In the message, Te Pāti Māori said Eru Kapa-Kingi’s claims were “part of a larger issue with his behaviour”.
The claim and counter-claim continued, with Eru Kapa-Kingi calling the allegations “false”. In a post to his social media, he said the party leadership was attempting to discredit him in a bid to “avoid accountability and protect their own power”.
Then, yesterday, it emerged that the Te Pāti Māori has put forward four motions to its national executive, one of them being a proposed suspension of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
A separate motion called for a reset of Kapa-Kingi’s electorate executive, citing dysfunction and failure to meet party standards, and another alleged she had seriously breached the party’s kawa (constitution) over alleged budgetary overspends.
A third motion proposed her suspension as an MP, and the fourth requested the development of a formal process to carry out her suspension and report back to the National Council.
Party split ‘inevitable’ without unity
Former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell and Labour MP Willie Jackson have both voiced concern, warning that a split in the party could be “inevitable” if unity isn’t restored.
If Mariameno Kapa-Kingi was to be suspended from Te Pāti Māori, she would still remain in Parliament as an elected MP for Te Tai Tokerau. Unless she resigns, is expelled under the Electoral Act, or chooses to leave Parliament, she keeps her seat. However, she would likely be treated as an independent MP, losing access to party resources, caucus meetings, and coordinated messaging.
This could limit her influence in Parliament and isolate her politically, especially if Te Pāti Māori formally distances itself from her.
Te Pāti Māori has had a rough few months. Whether the party can pull together and refocus on its kaupapa will shape what happens next, especially with the election coming up.
For now, the waka is wobbling, but it hasn’t sunk. Yet.
