Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Te Pāti Māori is promising a "reset" with details to come next week, after the Toitū Te Tiriti movement said it would no longer align itself with the party.
Toitū Te Tiriti, the driving force behind last year's hīkoi to Parliament, has distanced itself from Te Pāti Māori, with its spokesperson citing leadership concerns, a clash of values, and the need for independence.
In an interview with Te Ao Māori News, Eru Kapa-Kingi said the party's leadership style was "problematic" and "effectively a dictatorship model".
Te Pāti Māori declined RNZ's requests for an interview but provided a written response, saying the party supported Toitū Te Tiriti's independence.
"This was always our vision: that the kaupapa be carried and grown by the people themselves, not by any political party or individual," the spokesperson said.
The party pushed back on the leadership criticism, saying all appointments and decisions had been made through proper constitutional and tikanga-based processes, and no formal complaints had been lodged.
"Those pathways remain open to all, and we remain committed to restorative and transparent solutions whenever concerns arise. We encourage any member with concerns to raise them kanohi ki te kanohi, so matters can be worked through constructively."
The spokesperson said Kapa-Kingi "has been a valued member of Te Pāti Māori," pointing to his time as vice-president, his contributions to policy and strategy development, his work alongside his mother, and his support for Takutai Tarsh Kemp during her time as a MP.
"We acknowledge his contributions and remain open to constructive engagement, while also ensuring that the public record reflects accuracy."
The spokesperson said the party remained committed to "transparency, accountability, and the kaupapa of kotahitanga," and the movement was strong.
"We are focused on the bigger task; building an Aotearoa Hou grounded in Te Tiriti, mana motuhake, rangatiratanga and mokopuna decisions because we are committed to being a movement that leaves nobody behind.
"Next week, we will be sharing our reset and our vision for the path ahead."
Toitū Te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi at Waitangi in February this year. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Time to 'recover, regroup, and reset' - Eru Kapa-Kingi
Eru Kapa-Kingi is the son of Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, who was recently removed as party whip. The whip position was then filled by party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Kapa-Kingi told Te Ao Māori News his complaints were not motivated by his loyalty to his mother.
He said Toitū Te Tiriti was supposed to be "a kaupapa for everyone, a kaupapa that leaves no one behind," and assumptions of political alignment were causing problems.
"It needs to be unambiguous that our kaupapa is not a lobby group for any political party."
Kapa-Kingi was also critical of a narrative that only Te Pāti Māori could hold the Māori seats: "That's a false, ego-driven narrative. Power doesn't sit with one party; it sits with the people."
Kapa-Kingi, who served as vice-president of Te Pāti Māori before leaving to focus on Toitū Te Tiriti in March, criticised the party for failing to meet some of its constitutional requirements, such as holding its annual general meeting and national council hui.
But Te Pāti Māori said its AGM was delayed this year due to the sudden death of Takutai Tarsh Kemp and the by-election and would be held in the coming months.
Kapa-Kingi acknowledged to Te Ao Māori News that the move to distance Toitū Te Tiriti from Te Pāti Māori could create division, but said speaking out was necessary.
"If these conversations never happened, everyone would still be stuck under a broken leadership system. That would be worse," he said.
"Speaking up now gives us the chance to recover, regroup, and reset. That's actually healthier in the long run."
'They need to sort themselves out' - Chris Hipkins
On current polling, Labour would need to work with Te Pāti Māori if it wants to form a government at the next election.
Speaking to reporters in Auckland, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Te Pāti Māori appeared to be a "long way away" from playing a constructive role in a future government.
Hipkins said he would set out which parties Labour would and would not work with ahead of the election.
"I think Te Pāti Māori have got some internal issues of their own to work through before we could have that conversation with them. They look like they're quite a long way away from being ready to play a constructive role in any future government," he said.
"I'm not going to make any hard and fast decisions today, but I think I have sent a pretty clear signal they've got some work to do."
Asked whether he had a direct message for the party, Hipkins said: "They need to sort themselves out."
Hipkins has been increasingly critical of the party and how it has handled comments made by Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris towards non-Māori volunteering for Labour in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.
While the co-leaders apologised, party president John Tamihere said he agreed with the "substance" of Ferris' remarks.
Ferris himself has defended his comments in defiance of the co-leaders.
"They seem to have a bit of difficulty in figuring out exactly what their stance is. So they need to do that, and I'll make that call closer to the election," Hipkins said on Thursday.
Hipkins said Ferris' attitude "makes him wholly unsuitable for any kind of leadership role in government".
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