Former Te Pāti Māori co-leader calls for leadership change

Former Te Pāti Māori co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has publicly called for a change in the party's leadership, saying the party has lost its way after a period of internal turmoil.

Flavell, who served 12 years in Parliament before losing his seat in 2017, made the statement on social media on Wednesday. He said he had tried to stay neutral but felt compelled to speak after being approached by frustrated supporters at tangi of prominent Māori leaders, including that of Whatarangi Winiata, the party's inaugural president.

"Many are conflicted. They have been staunch Māori Party supporters, yet they are frustrated and uncertain," Flavell said.

The party has recently faced turmoil, with one MP expelled and another departing to establish a separate party. Flavell acknowledged current party president John Tamihere's success in winning 6 of the 7 Māori seats in 2023, saying "in my twelve years in Parliament and across four campaigns, we did not achieve what he and his team did".

But at Winiata's tangi, Flavell said the party now differs significantly from what its founders established. He listed internal conflicts, personal attacks, failures to uphold tikanga, weak leadership, and constant accusations as concerns raised by members. "If our people were to see a style of leadership that reflects the original Party values, I believe they would come home," he said. "That requires a change of leadership and approach."

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer responded to reporters at Parliament on Thursday, acknowledging the importance of feedback and expressing respect for Flavell. She said the party had stabilised since the previous year, though she conceded it was not the party's strongest period.

"We're a young movement, and we're going to have lots of growing pains," Ngarewa-Packer said. She asked supporters to "love their movement more than they are listening to any of the issues that may have upset them last year". The party has put forward new election candidates, with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clarke confirmed to contest Hauraki-Waikato.