Eru Kapa-Kingi, photographed on the Lower Treaty Grounds at Waitangi, February 2025. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi has hit back at "false" allegations levelled at him by Te Pāti Māori leadership, calling that a "direct retaliation" for him speaking out against "toxic" party leadership.
In a statement on social media, he said the party leadership was attempting to discredit him in a bid to "avoid accountability and protect their own power".
Last week, in an email to party membership, Te Pāti Māori accused one of its MPs of "major overspending issues" and her son of abusing Parliamentary security. The unsigned Monday night email - obtained by RNZ and other media - made a number of claims against MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and separately her son Eru Kapa-Kingi.
Since then, both Mariameno and Eru Kapa-Kingi have remained largely silent in response, with Mariameno Kapa-Kingi posting a statement last night addressing allegations around overspending her budget.
Her son has now addressed the accusations against him, claiming that "confidential information and false allegations about myself" had been released by the party.
Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Among the documents sent to members was an apparent Parliamentary Service report about an alleged incident last year involving Eru Kapa-Kingi.
It included claims that he "tailgated" through security gates at the Beehive and then swore at Parliament's staff when questioned, using terms such as, "you are just a piece of s..." , "f... you c..." and, "I will f..... knock you out".
Eru Kapa-Kingi said a process had been followed within Parliament regarding the incident, managed by an independent team, "and no findings were made against me".
Explaining the incident, he said he and his sister had been stopped by Parliament security while visiting their mum, despite having valid access cards.
"We were racially profiled and treated as if our passes were fake," he said.
"I became increasingly frustrated at the racial profiling, heated words were exchanged, but there was no physical altercation."
He then acknowledged his actions were "not a good example" and apologised, particularly to young people who looked up to him.
The email also claimed that he had been working for his mother - for $120,000 per annum - but had the contract terminated for "serious misconduct". It then said he was later brought back under a different company name as a way of circumventing the Parliamentary Services termination.
Kapa-Kingi said in his statement on Tuesday one allegation alluded to the idea "I received handouts from the Te Tai Tokerau budget".
He explained he'd managed the Te Tai Tokerau campaign for Te Pāti Māori when his mum won the seat in 2023, and he then worked part-time as an advisor in his capacity as a lawyer and political analyst, along with bilingual speech writing support.
"I have never directly received any large sums of money from any Parliamentary budget. Anyone familiar with Parliamentary Services knows that simply isn't possible."
He said no flags had been raised internally with his employment and financial matters were dealt within the party, which Kapa-Kingi claimed meant details of his employment "accompanied by false allegations" were provided by a Te Pāti Māori staff member to external sources.
He said that was "likely under the instruction of party leadership, in an attempt to discredit me".
"These are the lengths our current leaders are willing to go to avoid accountability and protect their own power."
Since resigning in September 2024, Kapa-Kingi said he'd provided services to the Te Tai Tokerau office on an "as and when needed" basis, rather than an employee on a salary. He said he'd done so through his consulting company Tautoru Limited which he shared with his brothers.
He said Te Pāti Māori leadership knew of those arrangements, were aware of the security incident, the independent investigation and the findings at the time they came about.
"The claim that I was dismissed for serious misconduct is defamatory, unequivocally wrong, and - quite frankly embarrassing for Te Pāti Māori to have made publicly.
"This unprofessional behaviour unfortunately demonstrates the dictatorship style leadership that I initially spoke out about."
He asked his followers to see the "bigger picture", suggesting the leadership "must have the humility and accountability to handle criticism" to lead a kaupapa Māori movement.
He acknowledged calls that were made for tikanga Māori resolutions to have been used to address internal issues, and said many attempts had been made over the years, "even as recent as last week, and all to no avail".
"Kanohi ki te kanohi [face to face] only works if the taringa [ears] are also listening, and those who have experienced it know that closed room environments are where bullies thrive."
Kapa-Kingi said he still believed in the future of Te Pāti Māori, but said it was time to reconsider the party's executive and leadership through a meeting involving all regions.
Te Pāti Māori declined to comment.
Asked if the Parliamentary Service would respond to the reports and allegations now Kapa-Kingi had addressed them publicly, acting Parliamentary Chief Executive Amy Brier told RNZ it would not comment on individual employment matters or internal party correspondence.
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