Source: Radio New Zealand
A composite image of Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ/Liam K. Swiggs
Te Pāti Māori’s national council has voted to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, after a period of internal conflict.
The National Iwi Chairs Forum had been hopeful the party’s two factions could patch things up at a hui at a Wellington marae this week.
That plan has been scuppered, after the co-leaders on Monday announced the party’s council – made up of electorate representatives – met on Sunday night and voted “without opposition” to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris, with immediate effect.
In response to news of his expulsion, Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has issued a statement, saying the decision “is plainly unconstitutional”.
RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
“I do not acknowledge the decisions and illegal resolutions made through unilateral measures.”
The affiliation of the Ferris and Kapa-Kingi – whose son Eru has also been scathing of party president John Tamihere – has been in question as the stoush in the party escalated.
Co-leader Rawiri Waititi confirmed last Tuesday the party was considering explusion.
Tamihere last week urged them to quit after the National Council voted to suspend Kapa-Kingi over office overspending accusations.
That followed a vote of no confidence in Tamihere from Ferris’ Te Tai Tonga electorate branch, which also called for his immediate resignation.
Tamihere accused them of plotting a coup against the co-leaders and said their behaviour was based on “greed, avarice and entitlement”.
The MPs have not been speaking to media but in a statement Kapa-Kingi said she was not going anywhere, and Tamihere did not speak for Te Tai Tokerau.
The council has been examining the party constitution to come to a decision on how it would handle the MPs, who met with the co-leaders last week.
More to come…
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
