Mariameno Kapa-Kingi not set on rejoining Te Pāti Māori - despite court win
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is not set on rejoining Te Pāti Māori (TPM) despite successfully arguing in the High Court for just that.
The High Court this week ruled that Kapa-Kingi must be reinstated to TPM as her previous expulsion had been unlawful. The party then said it would move to “repatriate” her into the party.
Kapa-Kingi on Thursday said the decision to rejoin was dependent on discussions with her Te Tai Tokerau electorate, with questions over whether the party could be trusted by her rohe.
She also needed the party and membership to engage in hohou te rongo - a Māori practice of restorative justice - with she and her son before she decided.
She said the ball was in the court of the membership to do that work and decide how that might go.
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“The question remains whether Te Pāti Māori can be trusted by my rohe, while no changes have been made in the capability of the party.”
Kapa-Kingi was expelled in November but sought a a judicial review. She won an interim reinstatement in December ahead of the full hearing in early February.
Regardless of the outcome of the discussions, she was determined to stay on as an MP, and was keeping the door open to run as an independent.
“I will remain, one way or another, I think I've got what it takes to do the work, and I want to.”
Kapa-Kingi said she would not be moving her parliamentary office back with the rest of the party, saying it made sense for her to stay working on the ground floor with Te Tai Tonga MP Takuta Ferris.
Ferris was also expelled from the party but had not been reinstated. He is acting as an independent MP until the rest of the term.
Kapa-Kingi said the court’s decision alone would not heal the hurt carried by her people, but it was an important first step.
She said the court had made it clear there was no evidence she had misused funds or brought the party into disrepute.
The High Court ruled her expulsion involved “fundamental errors of law and breaches of natural justice”.
Kapa-Kingi also, unsuccessfully, sought to have John Tamihere removed as party president, arguing that the party’s constitution suggested that the presidency rotate between people.
On whether it would be more attractive for her to rejoin the party if Tamihere was not president, she said her application spoke to that.
She has not had the chance to meet with others from TPM yet, but said she was hopeful restoration could happen.
“I'm confident in the ways we are as Māori, even when we might tumble a bit, so our tikanga must remain.”