Once again, members of Te Pāti Māori have proven that following the most basic parliamentary rules is not exactly their strong suit. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has failed to properly declare her property interests, flouting Parliament’s transparency rules.
Since entering Parliament in 2020, Packer has repeatedly declared only a single property. Investigations revealed she owns at least two more: a residential property being developed in Hāwera and a vacant section in Pātea. Shockingly, Packer did not update her register until after the MSM contacted her about the discrepancies and even then, it was two days later. For years, the Pātea section has been in her possession; the Hāwera property was purchased as recently as 2024. For all that time, the public was left in the dark.
When approached, Packer’s response was to dodge questions, citing attendance at a tangi. That may explain her physical absence, but it does nothing to excuse the repeated failures to meet parliamentary obligations. Weeks of queries went unanswered, leaving only silence from her and the wider Te Pāti Māori camp. Transparency, it seems, is optional if you are a Māori Party MP.
Contrast this with MPs from other parties. National’s Gerry Brownlee miscounted dual titles and corrected the register promptly. NZ First’s Mark Patterson, Labour’s Jo Luxton, Damien O’Connor, and Ayesha Verrall all responded to queries, clarifying or updating their declarations. Errors happened, yes, but they were addressed with accountability. Not so with Packer.
Parliamentary rules are clear. MPs must declare “the location of real property in which the member has a legal interest” and describe its nature. Ignoring these rules undermines public trust and calls into question whether Te Pāti Māori takes its legal obligations seriously or at all.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
When approached, Packer’s response was to dodge questions, citing attendance at a tangi. That may explain her physical absence, but it does nothing to excuse the repeated failures to meet parliamentary obligations. Weeks of queries went unanswered, leaving only silence from her and the wider Te Pāti Māori camp. Transparency, it seems, is optional if you are a Māori Party MP.
Contrast this with MPs from other parties. National’s Gerry Brownlee miscounted dual titles and corrected the register promptly. NZ First’s Mark Patterson, Labour’s Jo Luxton, Damien O’Connor, and Ayesha Verrall all responded to queries, clarifying or updating their declarations. Errors happened, yes, but they were addressed with accountability. Not so with Packer.
Parliamentary rules are clear. MPs must declare “the location of real property in which the member has a legal interest” and describe its nature. Ignoring these rules undermines public trust and calls into question whether Te Pāti Māori takes its legal obligations seriously or at all.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
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