Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is now an independent MP representing Te Tai Tokerau. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Expelled Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says there are moments when she thinks “how did we get here”.
Two years ago, she beat long-standing Labour MP Kelvin Davis to win the Te Tai Tokerau electorate in the last general election.
The upset was heralded as a major victory for Te Pāti Māori by the likes of former Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira and party members themselves, who described the win as a “historic reclaiming”.
But now Kapa-Kingi sits on the outside, with accusations of overspending, sexism and what appears to be a smear campaign being slung between herself and Te Pāti Māori’s leaders.
“In the strangest way, there are moments where it’s like, gee, how did we get here,” she said.
“But when the injustice is so obvious, I just rise to the occasion.”
Kapa-Kingi believes she is the target of a smear campaign by Te Pāti Māori.
“I’m one of four rookies, new people in the team,” she said.
“I am outspoken.
“I’m willing to challenge things if I believe they deserve to be challenged. I’m willing to agree with things that I believe need to be agreed with.”
But most importantly to Kapa-Kingi: “I can spot when things aren’t right.”
She held back specifics but offered an example, such as significant decisions being made for and about people while they are not in the room.
She criticised the actions as not adhering to tikanga.
Kapa-Kingi herself has been in that situation.
She and Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris were excluded by the party’s national council two weeks ago without the council hearing from the MPs themselves.
A hint of trouble had come when she was removed as the party whip in September.
Claims of overspending were then brought against Kapa-Kingi.
Te Pāti Māori leadership alleged she was warned by Parliamentary Services that her office budget was on track to overspend by up to $133,000.
Party emails to members included a letter from Parliamentary Services stating she had only $4986 left for the term and any overspend would need to be covered personally.
Kapa-Kingi publicly shot down the allegation at a hui held in Kaikohe on Sunday, saying she had received an email from the Parliamentary Services Office stating her budget for the second year of this term had been underspent.
“When dictators come for Māori women, they come for them as a woman and then they come at them for the money because that’s an easy target,” she told the Northern Advocate yesterday.
Kapa-Kingi received overwhelming support at the hui she called at Kohewhata Marae and that was hosted by Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi chairman Mane Tahere, Te Rūnanga ā iwi o Ngāpuhi tumu whakarae [general manager] Moana Tuwhare, and the marae.
She said the message to her had been: “You are who we selected, therefore, you must remain.”
About 300 people hailing from the Te Tai Tokerau electorate travelled to the marae to hear directly from the MP about her expulsion from Te Pāti Māori. Among them were Māori leaders Dame Naida Glavish, Hone Harawira, Ngāti Wai Trust Board chairman Aperahama Edwards, and Pita Tipene.
Kapa-Kingi’s former party declined the invitation to meet with Te Tai Tokerau voters at the hui, although MP Oriini Kaipara was in the audience.
The party claimed in a letter that multiple Te Tai Tokerau rangatira had said not to attend at this time and that the party was dealing with some legal proceedings and had been advised that attending might be seen as interfering with that process.
A statement from the hui organisers said the eight-hour occasion was an equally important opportunity for attendees to share views, ask questions, express concerns and make suggestions.
“The voices, tones and reactions from the whare were enthusiastic and sincere, sometimes angry, frustrated and sad, and at times the whare was filled with raucous laughter.”
By the end of the hui position statements on behalf of Te Tai Tokerau were collectively agreed upon.
They included “overwhelmingly” affirming the electorate’s support for Kapa-Kingi and expressing anger at Te Pāti Māori leadership for what they described as disgraceful actions that trampled on the mana and tapu of Kapa-Kingi and Tai Tokerau.
“They made it very clear as members of Te Tai Tokerau and whānau of Northland they felt the insult that I sustained and therefore they sustained it,” Kapa-Kingi said.
There was a demand Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere stand down or be removed.
The feeling is perhaps mutual, as Tamihere earlier suggested Kapa-Kingi and Ferris resign, accusing them of “greed, avarice and entitlement”.
Sunday’s hui also ended with a collective desire for Te Tai Tokerau and Te Pāti Māori to rebuild, starting with Kapa-Kingi being reinstated.
Until then Te Tai Tokerau would continue to support Kapa-Kingi, who vowed to continue to serve her electorate.
“You can’t be shaken at times where they expect you to be sturdy,” she said.
Te Pāti Māori has been approached for comment.