By Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com
Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa‑Kingi has confirmed she is leaving Te Pāti Māori and will contest the November election under a new political banner, the Te Tai Tokerau Party.
The announcement marks the latest development in what has been a turbulent year for the Northland MP. According to reporting from the NZ Herald, Kapa‑Kingi was expelled from Te Pāti Māori last year alongside Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris. She later challenged the expulsion in court and was reinstated after a judge ruled in her favour. Her decision to now depart the party formally brings that chapter to a close.
In a video posted to social media, Kapa‑Kingi said the new party would be “a refreshed expression of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Whakaputanga”, describing it as a platform for the “needs and aspirations of our whānau”. She urged supporters to sign up as financial members — political parties require at least 500 financial members to register for the election — and called for volunteers to help build the movement.
Te Pāti Māori responded with a brief statement, saying it respected the right of whānau, hapū, iwi and candidates to determine their own political pathway. “We wish Mariameno well,” the party said, adding that it would confirm its Te Tai Tokerau candidate in due course. The party has already named five candidates for the 2026 election and says it intends to contest all seven Māori electorates.
Te Pāti Māori also referenced its broader goals, saying its movement was “bigger than any one seat, candidate or moment”, and reaffirmed its intention to campaign on issues such as housing, health, and whānau wellbeing.
Kapa‑Kingi’s new party enters a competitive field in Te Tai Tokerau, where she currently holds the seat as an independent. Tākuta Ferris, who was expelled alongside her, continues to hold Te Tai Tonga as an independent MP.
Further details about the Te Tai Tokerau Party’s policies and candidate lineup are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
