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March 13, 2026
#election2026: Kapa-Kingi Weighs Political Future After High Court Reinstatement
Waatea Team
Posted On March 13, 2026
Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa‑Kingi says she is still considering whether her political future lies with Te Pāti Māori or whether she may stand as an independent.
Her comments come days after a High Court ruling reinstated her membership in the party, overturning a decision that had earlier seen her suspended and expelled. The court found the process used by the party did not follow its own rules and tikanga-based procedures, declaring the expulsion unlawful.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the ruling, Kapa-Kingi said the court’s decision was an important step but acknowledged that the situation had caused significant hurt among supporters in Te Tai Tokerau. She said there remained questions about whether the relationship between the party and her electorate could be rebuilt following the dispute.
The MP said she is still in the early stages of discussions about what her reinstatement within the party will mean in practice. While she has been welcomed back following the court’s decision, she indicated that standing as an independent candidate at the next election remains a possibility.
Kapa-Kingi has maintained that her legal challenge was about ensuring the voices of Te Tai Tokerau voters were respected and that the processes guiding the party were followed correctly. She has also reiterated her intention to seek re-election in the northern Māori electorate.
The case stemmed from a long-running internal dispute within the party that saw Kapa-Kingi and fellow MP Tākuta Ferris expelled late last year. Ferris did not challenge the decision in court and continues to sit in Parliament as an independent member.
Following the ruling, Te Pāti Māori leaders said they would respect the court’s decision and work towards bringing Kapa-Kingi back into the party fold.
However, with trust still needing to be rebuilt between the MP, the party leadership and her electorate, Kapa-Kingi says the coming months will determine whether her future political path remains within the party or outside of it.
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