David Farrar: Is it a party or a family?

The Herald has documents in relation to the court case between Te Pati Maori and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. What is fascinating is how they reveal the extent of the Tamihere family control of the party. It goes well beyond what we already knew. Here is what has been revealed:

• President: John Tamihere

• Co-leader: Rawiri Waititi, son-in-law of John Tamihere

• General Manager: Kiri Tamihere Waititi, daughter of Tamihere

• Secretary/Treasurer: Lance Norman, employed by John Tamihere’s WOCA

• Waiariki electorate co-chair: Monica Waititi, sister-in-law of Rawiri

• Te Tai Hauāuru electorate chair: Hinemoana Durie-Shedlock, sister-in-law of John Tamihere

• Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate chair: Te Rina Lemon, niece of John Tamihere

So a majority of the officers and at least three of the seven electorates are all linked to one man.

Could you imagine this occurring in any other party?

This would be like the National Party that has Bill English as Leader, Maria English as General Manager, Maria’s husband as a deputy leader, Mary’s sister as a regional chair, Libby English as another regional chair and Jo Coughlan as a third regional chair. It would be unthinkable.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders