Te Pāti Māori internal dispute

The story so far

In October 2025, Te Pāti Māori emailed members unsigned documents alleging that MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi was on track to overspend her budget by $133,000 and that her son had used intimidating language towards Parliament security staff.^{14 Oct 2025} Kapa-Kingi denied the overspending claims, saying her electorate budget had never been overspent and that the spending was approved, and the party's leadership moved to suspend her.^{20, 27, 28 Oct 2025} The dispute widened as the Te Tai Tonga electorate committee petitioned for party president John Tamihere to stand down, and Tamihere urged Kapa-Kingi and fellow MP Tākuta Ferris to resign from Parliament. The National Iwi Chairs Forum sought to mediate between the two factions.^{31 Oct 2025; 3, 4, 6 Nov 2025} On 9 November, the party's national council voted to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris, and both MPs rejected the decision.^{10, 13 Nov 2025} In early December, an interim High Court ruling reinstated Kapa-Kingi as a party member while her challenge to the expulsion continued.^{3, 5 Dec 2025}

Latest

A December Mata-Horizon Research poll suggested many Māori voters would prefer Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke to lead Te Pāti Māori, and that nearly half do not trust the current leadership.^{19 Dec 2025}

What's next

A full hearing over Kapa-Kingi's challenge to her expulsion is scheduled for early February.^{5 Dec 2025}

Key moments

1. 14 Oct 2025Unsigned documents allege $133,000 overspend and son's threatening conduct.
2. 27 Oct 2025Party reportedly votes to suspend Kapa-Kingi and reset her electorate committee.
3. 3 Nov 2025Petition seeks Tamihere's resignation; he calls on two MPs to quit.
4. 4 Nov 2025Iwi leaders meet party leadership at Parliament to address infighting.
5. 10 Nov 2025National Council expels Kapa-Kingi and Ferris; Kapa-Kingi vows appeal.
6. 13 Nov 2025Ngāpuhi backs Kapa-Kingi, calling her removal unconstitutional.
7. 5 Dec 2025Interim High Court ruling reinstates Kapa-Kingi as a party member.
8. 19 Dec 2025Poll shows Maipi-Clarke preferred as leader over current leadership.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.