Key Takeaways:
- Former co-leaders and presidents of Te Pāti Māori have signed a letter calling for the party to be salvaged and for the current leadership to meet with them to discuss the party’s future.
- The letter was written in response to the expulsion of two MPs, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, and the subsequent division within the party.
- The former leaders are not prepared to walk away from the party and want to rebuild it with the current leadership.
- The party’s current leadership has been criticized for its handling of the situation, with some members calling for the president, John Tamihere, to step down.
- The party’s AGM is scheduled to take place on December 7, and it is likely that some of the former leaders will attend to discuss the party’s future.
Introduction to the Crisis
The Māori Party, Te Pāti Māori, is facing a crisis after the expulsion of two of its MPs, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris. The party’s leadership has been criticized for its handling of the situation, and former co-leaders and presidents have signed a letter calling for the party to be salvaged. The letter, obtained by 1News, states that the party has "self-destructed" and that the former leaders are not prepared to walk away. Instead, they want to meet with the current leadership to discuss the party’s future and find a way to rebuild it.
The Expulsion of MPs
The expulsion of Kapa-Kingi and Ferris has been a major point of contention within the party. The party’s co-leaders, Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, have said that the decision was driven by breaches of the party’s constitution. However, others have argued that the decision was unfair and that the party’s leadership has not handled the situation well. Ferris has spoken out about the situation, saying that the party’s new MP, Oriini Kaipara, attended a meeting in Northland in a show of solidarity with him and Kapa-Kingi. He also praised Kaipara’s "mana" and her support for Kapa-Kingi.
The Response from Former Leaders
The letter from the former leaders, including Dame Naida Glavish, Sir Pita Sharples, Te Ururoa Flavell, Marama Fox, Hone Harawira, and Tukoroirangi Morgan, is a call for the party to come together and find a way forward. The letter states that the party was not established to "belittle people" but rather for the betterment of all Māori. The former leaders are asking the current leadership to meet with them to discuss the party’s future and find a way to rebuild it. Flavell has said that there is enough of the former Māori leadership to raise their concerns and that they want to see solutions.
The Current Leadership’s Response
The party’s president, John Tamihere, has responded to the letter, saying that he has spoken to several former leaders already and that the party’s current numbers are well in advance of where they were 12 months ago. However, Tamihere’s response has been criticized as dismissive, and many are calling for him to step down. The party’s AGM is scheduled to take place on December 7, and it is likely that some of the former leaders will attend to discuss the party’s future. Flavell has said that it is "highly likely" that some of the former leaders will attend the AGM to "see what’s going on and find out and hear what people have got to say."
The Way Forward
The situation within Te Pāti Māori is complex and divisive. While the current leadership is facing criticism for its handling of the situation, the former leaders are calling for the party to come together and find a way forward. The party’s AGM will be an important opportunity for the party to discuss its future and find a way to rebuild. However, it remains to be seen whether the current leadership will be willing to listen to the concerns of the former leaders and work towards a resolution. Ferris has welcomed the letter from the former leadership, saying that it has been difficult to achieve an "open and transparent" conversation. He has also indicated that his electorate executive plans to invite the party leadership to meet with them, although he does not hold out much hope that they will attend.