Source: Radio New Zealand
An interim high court ruling has reinstated Mariameno Kapa-Kingi as a member of Te Pāti Māori. Anneke Smith / RNZ
The reinstatement of an expelled MP raises serious questions for Te Pāti Māori voters ahead of next year’s election, political experts say.
An interim high court ruling has returned Mariameno Kapa-Kingi as a member of the party, after she was ousted alongside Tākuta Ferris in early November, following a period of internal conflict.
She will now attend this weekend’s Annual General Meeting.
Associate professor in politics at Victoria University, Lara Greaves, said voters might be unwilling to back a party in such an unstable state.
“A lot of their voters and a lot of Māori voters would, I think, be fairly tolerant of there being like internal conflict or there being instability, but this has just been like the most unstable we’ve seen a political party really ever be,” she said.
“This one’s been spectacular, this blow-up.”
Political scientist & Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Lara Greaves RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Te Pāti Māori has acknowledged the judge’s decision and said it looked forward to bringing the issue to its members at this weekend’s meeting.
Greaves said says the blow-up was almost certain to be a topic of conversation among attendees.
“The thing for Kapa-Kingi is that that shows a lot of courage to show up to a party that’s tried to boot you out like that, so I think most people could probably empathise with someone in that sort of work situation, having to show up, but yeah it definitely does seem like Kapa-Kingi and Ferris are, they’re sticking to trying to change the party internally.”
In his ruling, Justice Paul Radich said there was an argument that Kapa-Kingi’s expulsion was based on “mistaken facts” and “procedural irregulaties”. The matter would be revisited at a full hearing in February.
Former Māori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell said the decision was significant.
“There’s enough there, even in his statements, to suggest that the processes that were used were questionable and, therefore, it’s a bit of an indictment on, of the process that’s been used thus far.”
Former Māori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Flavell said the party had its work cut out for it to restore confidence among voters.
“A lot of damage has been done in what’s happened over these last couple of months, between individuals, for the party as a whole. I think our people and indeed those who are supporters of the Māori Party want this issue put to bed as smartly as possible and for the MPs to focus on the current issues of the day.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
