Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi is blaming “allegations and two rogue MPs” for the turmoil consuming his party, confirming expulsion of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris is being considered.
Waititi also says claims from party president John Tamihere that the two MPs sought to challenge for the party’s leadership are “absolutely true” as he endorses Tamihere’s social media post accusing the two MPs of “greed, avarice and entitlement” and encouraging them to quit.
Tamihere this morning told RNZ expelling the MPs from Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Tonga for their continued public criticism of the party would be a “conversation that the [party’s] national council will have very shortly”.
In a brief statement responding to Tamihere, Kapa-Kingi told the Herald: “Taitokerau will decide, not him.”
Ferris has been contacted for comment.
The escalation has followed weeks of turmoil for the party, which has included accusations of dictatorial leadership and assault, claims of overspending parliamentary budgets and the party voting to suspend Kapa-Kingi.
The MPs have not shied away from their public criticisms; Kapa-Kingi saying her suspension has no legitimacy and Ferris supporting a vote of no confidence in Tamihere as president.
Members of the party are set to meet with representatives of the National Iwi Chairs Forum to navigate its internal rifts, spokesperson Bayden Barber saying Tamihere’s social media post yesterday was “unhelpful”.
Waititi, who has been overseas in China recently, arrived at Parliament this morning alongside Tamihere, his wife Kiri Tamihere-Waititi (who is Tamihere’s daughter and works for the party) as well as other party staff.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Waititi denied the party’s work to scrutinise Government legislation had been distracted by Tamihere’s actions.
“No, it’s not because of the president, it’s because of allegations and two rogue MPs so that’s the position we’re in at this particular time,” he said, noting five of seven electorate groups had endorsed Tamihere as president.
“If you can prove to me why it is a distraction and any reason why [Tamihere] should resign, that would be good but people throwing out allegations of toxicity, bullying, and dictatorship without any evidence, I think it’s something for you fullas to pursue.”
The allegations Waititi refers to were made by former party vice-president Eru Kapa-Kingi, also Mariameno’s son, who publicly accused the party of a dictatorial leadership style, which sparked much of spat playing out in public view.
Asked if it was possible Kapa-Kingi and Ferris could remain in the party, Waititi said: “We’re going through that process.
“There’s a process in play, that has been set by the national council,” he said, adding the council featured representatives of electorate groups.
He maintained the decision to expel the two MPs was not one for him to make.
“That’s not a decision for me, that is a decision for the electorates.
“We’ve taken it back to the people and the national council is making those decisions.
“So heading forward, we must allow that process to happen and we’re cleaning up our whare.”
Tamihere refused to answer whether the party would expel the two MPs, directing questions to Waititi. On RNZ, he indicated he didn’t want them to remain in the party “if they continue to be rogue”.
Waititi would not discuss whether Te Pāti Māori would invoke the waka-jumping legislation, should the two MPs be expelled.
“The electorates will decide whether they stay in the House or not come 2026.”
In Tamihere’s post yesterday, he alleged Kapa-Kingi and Ferris had sought to replace Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer as co-leaders.
Waititi initially declined to answer whether the claim was correct before saying: “I can confirm that those are true and the evidence will show when we come out with it.”
He said he supported “all the sentiments laid out” by Tamihere in his post.
“Unless there has been any evidence as to the accusations made, then we will be able to answer those but the accusations were made by a certain party and I think those questions need to be posed to them and to come with the receipts.”
Last month, Te Pāti Māori announced it was going through a “reset”, promising to outline policy and front-foot communication with its base. Since then, no policy has been released and the party’s leaders had avoided questions about the turmoil.
“Resets don’t happen overnight, and resets will continue as we continue to build the momentum of our Māori voice,” Waititi said.
He confirmed party members would meet with the National Iwi Chairs Forum today as he welcomed their input.
“It’s good that the iwi chairs feel that they have some ownership of this movement.”
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.