Te Pāti Māori: Mariameno Kapa-Kingi questions whether her own party can be trusted

Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, who was this week “repatriated” into Te Pāti Māori after a ruling by the High Court, has questioned whether her rohe, or territory, could still trust the party.

Kapa-Kingi faced media at Parliament today after the decision, which saw her brought back into the party which expelled her last year – an action the High Court found to be unlawful.

That court decision also criticised a “fact sheet” emailed to national council members on October 12 containing “quite serious allegations” against Kapa-Kingi and her son, Eru Kapa-Kingi, which “did not record facts” or “endeavour to provide balance”.

“For now, I will sit with this decision,” she said.

“The question remains whether Te Pāti Māori can be trusted by my rohe while no changes have been made in the capability of the party.”

Kapa-Kingi said she had not seen party president John Tamihere since the decision. Tamihere was one of the figures who moved to expel Kapa-Kingi last year, feuding with both her and her son Eru Kapa-Kingi.

“Pursuing a legal pathway through the courts was never my first choice,” she said.

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, the elected MP for Te Tai Tokerau, addresses media following her win in the High Court. Photo / Jamie Ensor

Kapa-Kingi said she was “left with no choice, which was to call it out at the highest level I could”.

“It is not about vindication, it is about mokopuna [grandchildren].

“Every decision I make is about whether our mokopuna will inherit a better situation than today.”

Kapa-Kingi said the court’s decision alone would “not heal the hurt carried by my people”.

Now reinstated into the party, she suggested there could continue to be a struggle for the future of the party, which would likely pit herself against Tamihere.

Kapa-Kingi said ultimately, members would decide the future of the party.

Earlier this week, the High Court found Te Pāti Māori was wrong to expel Kapa-Kingi in the way it did last year.

The High Court said Kapa-Kingi’s dismissal was unlawful, and she should be reinstated as a member of the party.

In a statement, Te Pāti Māori said it respected the court’s decision and would be “repatriating” her back into the party.

She was a victim of turmoil in the party last year amid allegations that implied its leaders were dictators (which the party has consistently rejected) and that Kapa-Kingi had brought the party into disrepute by misusing funds.

Tensions brewed after Kapa-Kingi was removed as party whip, a tense meeting was held in which Kapa-Kingi walked out, and the party sent an email to membership containing serious allegations against Kapa-Kingi and her son.