Te Pāti Māori MP Warned of $133,000 Budget Overspend

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, a Member of Parliament for Te Pāti Māori, faces serious allegations of overspending her office budget by $133,000. Official documents reveal that the party received warnings from Parliamentary Services as early as July 7, 2023, indicating significant financial mismanagement within her office.

Tensions within the party have escalated in recent weeks, particularly following accusations of dictatorial leadership from Kapa-Kingi’s son, Eru Kapa-Kingi. In response, Te Pāti Māori circulated a detailed email to its members that included a “fact sheet” addressing these allegations. The party’s leadership, including co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and president John Tamihere, are now under pressure to clarify their position and actions regarding the financial issues.

The email detailing the overspending claims states that the co-leaders were unable to contact Kapa-Kingi until August 1, 2023. It was on this date that Tamihere informed her of the severity of the situation, emphasizing that the party must not appear to be poorly managed in financial matters. Following this, on August 3, 2023, Tamihere sent a letter to Kapa-Kingi outlining the potential repercussions of her financial actions on the party’s reputation.

One of the critical challenges highlighted in the email is the lack of transparency among MPs regarding their financial dealings. The party noted that members can withhold information and hire staff through various entities, complicating accountability.

A troubling allegation has emerged suggesting that a significant portion of the overspending may be linked to payments made to Eru Kapa-Kingi. The party’s email stated: “We will leave it to Mariameno to front that allegation and declare how much has been paid out to Eru.”

In light of these issues, Kapa-Kingi has been demoted from her role as whip (Matarau). The party explained that her visibility in Northland had become a concern, as Iwi leaders reported that she was not attending local hui (meetings) regularly. The position of Matarau ties the MP closely to parliamentary business, making it difficult for her to campaign effectively in her large electorate.

Te Pāti Māori emphasized the need for Kapa-Kingi to focus on the upcoming election campaign, especially given her competition in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate. The challenges she faces include formidable candidates such as Huhana Lyndon from the Green Party and Willow Jean Prime from the Labour Party.

With just eleven months remaining until the next general election, the party’s leadership is making strategic decisions aimed at supporting Kapa-Kingi in her electoral bid for 2026. Additionally, following the recent passing of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp, Kapa-Kingi is also expected to assume responsibilities on the Social Services Select Committee, further complicating her current situation.

The unfolding events raise questions about leadership accountability and financial management within Te Pāti Māori, as the party navigates a challenging political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections. As developments continue, both the party and Kapa-Kingi will need to address these issues transparently to maintain public confidence.