A public rift within Te Pāti Māori continues to deepen ahead of a promised "reset" of the party later this week.
MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi spoke to 1News Political Editor Maiki Sherman earlier today, following claims of a toxic environment within the party.
John Tamihere says the party is focused on a reset after the election of new MP Oriini Kaipara. (Source: 1News)
The MP for Te Tai Tokerau was demoted from her role of party whip last month, a move she called "disappointing". She later spoke of "dysfunction" in the party in an interview.
Speaking today with 1News, Kapa-Kingi said she believed "change was good" in the organisation.
Claims of toxicity and a "dictatorship" style leadership within the party first emerged publicly from the MP's son, Eru Kapa-Kingi, as the group he helped lead — Toitu Te Tiriti — emphasised it stood independent from Te Pāti Māori.
When asked if she agreed with her son's statements, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said: "It's time for change, is what I see. Change is good for us. I think, particularly now."
She went on to suggest the younger generation brought different expectations and that they "don't tolerate the stuff that we used to".
Toitū Te Tiriti, one of its closest allies, has cut ties with the party. (Source: 1News)
Separately, allegations have emerged online that the MP had overspent her budget.
"There was an adjustment and I managed that within the rules," she said, when asked directly if she overspent her budget.
Asked for more detail, she said there were "privacy issues". The MP refused to give a figure of the overspend, but said, "it's certainly not" $200,000 as had been rumoured online.
House speaker steps in after claims a Te Pāti Māori MP overspent their budget, watch on TVNZ+
Eru Kapa-Kingi has suggested that the leaking of his mother's budgetary affairs possibly came from the party itself.
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said: "I don't know where else that information could have come."
The MP added, when asked, that she didn't rule out a smear campaign.
"I'd be disappointed if that was the truth, and I honestly don't know. It's a real challenging time at the moment," she said.
Tamihere questioned at Parliament
Meanwhile, Te Pāti Māori party president John Tamihere was questioned by reporters as he approached Parliament earlier today.
Arriving at Parliament, Tamihere told reporters the party would not answer "claims and allegations". (Source: 1News)
Asked whether the budget issues were why Kapa-Kingi was demoted, Tamihere said: "The truth will come out in the fullness of time."
Te Pāti Māori leadership has promised a reset on Thursday, coinciding with new Tāmaki Makaurau MP Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech. When challenged about potentially upstaging Kaipara's moment, Tamihere laughed off the suggestion.
Asked specifically about the dictatorship claim made by Eru Kapa-Kingi, he responded with silence before saying: "It's a beautiful thing."
When confronted about the allegations, Tamihere declined to address them directly, saying "we don't answer claims and allegations".
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said she had no plans to leave her role. "I'm not going anywhere. Unless our people say, 'No, we don't want you. We want someone else'."
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