10 Sep 2025

Te Pati Maori MP Takuta Ferris doubles down on controversial

From Checkpoint, 4:44 pm on 10 September 2025

Te Pati Maori MP Takuta Ferris has doubled down on the controversial comments he made about race during the final days of the Tamaki Makaurau by-election. His latest social media post puts him at odds with his party's earlier apology, and was today roundly condemned by MPs from across the House. Mr Ferris posted on Instagram last week, criticising Labour for having "Indians, Asians, Black and Pakeha" campaign for its candidate, Peeni Henare. Those remarks prompted Te Pati Maori to clarify that its movement has always been for "the people", but in a further post, Mr Ferris has come out swinging at his critics. Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira reports.