John Tamihere caught in indigenous vs white debate; amid frenzy, Te Pāti Māori president responds to resignation calls with 1,335-word essay titled “The Anatomy of Madness”

Te Pāti Māori's Te Tai Tonga electorate committee launched a petition Monday, November 3, calling for president John Tamihere's resignation. Tākuta Ferris serves as MP for Te Tai Tonga. Tamihere published a 1,335-word essay titled "The Anatomy of Madness" in response. He claimed MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Ferris were plotting to remove co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, who is Tamihere's son-in-law.

Neither Ferris nor Kapa-Kingi responded to Stuff's request for comment Monday. The Iwi Chairs Forum, described as the most powerful group in te ao Māori, has called Tamihere for a meeting to address the situation. Tamihere stated Kapa-Kingi launched sustained criticism of the party and him after being removed as party whip earlier this year.

The party initially claimed she stepped down mutually to spend more time in her electorate. In Monday's post, Tamihere said she was removed due to concerns about losing votes in the Far North.


Also read: Wesley College Auckland hostels ordered to close Friday over student safety concerns

"The adverse impact of the Kapa-Kingi entitlement can only be explained by their desire to take over leadership of the Party with Mr Ferris. They could not do that through the tikanga of the Party so they have endeavoured to destabilise the party," Tamihere said.

Eru Kapa-Kingi, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's son and former Te Pāti Māori vice president, criticized the party's leadership structure. He said it operated under a "dictatorship model" and described the leadership as "toxic."

Te Pāti Māori president challenges MPs to leave party

Tamihere challenged Kapa-Kingi and Ferris to resign from Te Pāti Māori if dissatisfied with party direction.

"Instead of endeavouring to destroy our ability to end this Government's reign next year, we invite Kapa-Kingi and Ferris to do the honourable thing," he said.

Tamihere suggested the MPs should leave Te Pāti Māori and start their own political party, similar to Hone Harawira's departure from the Māori Party in 2011.

"I guarantee Kapa-Kingi and Ferris will not do the same thing because their conduct is not based on mana, is not based on integrity and honesty or on principle. Their conduct is based on greed, avarice and entitlement," he said.

Tamihere stated there had been ongoing issues between Kapa-Kingi supporters and Te Pāti Māori leadership, writing: "This is not our first Kapa-Kingi rodeo."

"It is not the fault of Te Pāti Maori that the personal interests and entitlement of Ms Kapa-Kingi and her family are now known to everyone," Tamihere wrote.

"The white feeding frenzy that they knew they would inspire continues as it is based on rage baiting rather than any evidence," he said.

Ferris conflict with Te Pāti Māori leadership over Tamaki Makaurau campaign

Tensions between Kapa-Kingi and Te Pāti Māori leadership emerged as Ferris publicly refused co-leader requests to stop criticizing Labour over its Tamaki Makaurau campaign.

Ferris criticized Labour for having non-Māori supporters assisting Peeni Henare. He said it was "mind blowing" that they were trying to "take a Māori seat from Māori."

Ngarewa-Packer apologized on Ferris's behalf, but Ferris told Stuff he would make his own decisions and that co-leaders had no greater mana than he did in Te Pāti Māori.

Also read: New Zealand foreign minister's home attacked by protester

Party executive attempts to suspend Kapa-Kingi as Iwi chairs forum calls meeting

Tamihere and the party executive began an attempt to suspend Kapa-Kingi last week. Eru Kapa-Kingi stated they would launch legal action to fight the suspension.

Late last week, the Iwi Chairs Forum requested all sides in the Te Pāti Māori dispute meet for a hui to resolve the conflicts.