Bayden Barber: Ngāti Kahungunu chair speaks as proposed Te Pāti Māori meeting looms

A meeting between battling factions in Te Pāti Māori's closer to being a reality.

The party's faced weeks of turmoil and infighting, culminating in party president John Tamihere calling for the resignation of MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris.

The party's leadership has agreed to a meeting next week to work through the issues with its MPs.

Iwi leaders met with Takuta Ferris today.

Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber says Ferris has agreed to attend, but he's yet to hear from Kapa-Kingi.

"There's still a glimmer of hope, and that's what we're latching on to. We've asked to bring our huis at the marae, if we can get there before it all falls to bits, that would be the best outcome."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now it is not looking that good for the Maori
Party in terms of a peace deal. Today the eerie
leaders have met today with the rogue MP taku to
Paris to try to brok or cease fire. But then
from the other side, shots are still being fired with
Kitty tamaher who's John Tamahera his daughter, and also at
Arwity White Eats wife still going on social media after
the last couple of days having her say. Baden Barber
is the chair of Nati Kahungu, who was at the

(00:22):
meeting today. Hi, Baden, how are good? Thank you? So
you met with taku to today and it was constructive. Yes, yep,
yep it was what did you guys agree?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, we we offered to host Hui and Pornique next
week and it would be great for him to come
along to their meeting as we're trying to pull together
the factions and so he he he offered, accepted to come.

(00:57):
He'll uh you know, he can see it coming to
get a face to face, this opportunity to build bridges.
So yeah, so that was pleasing, very pleasing. And like
I say, we met with the co leaders on Tuesday
and to have an opportunity to speak with Takuta. Even
though Mariamna wasn't at the whuy, We're still a valuable exercise.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
To why was she not at the meeting?

Speaker 2 (01:25):
Not too sure? Not too sure? Yeah, said that he
would be the only one at the meeting. Kater boy,
it is what it is and uh and so we
had the meeting with Dociden.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Do you think it's because it's a lost cause with her,
it's over with her?

Speaker 2 (01:42):
No, not at all. I think he has has said
that she wants to meet with her people in the
North first before you know, other meetings, and so I'm
assuming that's the reason why she wasn't in the meeting today.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Okay, now, what's going on with Kerry tamahead it because
didn't the party just agree with you a couple of
days ago that they would stop firing shots on social
media and yet she continues to do it.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, you know that that was a discussion. You know
these the party is is wider, I guess, and you've
got lots of different parts of the party. But when
we spoke to the coaches, you know there's a general
agreement from from themselves.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
But like, isn't their own wife because you're talking to
Roweri and then Rowady's missus goes on.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
So yeah, I mean we can only we can only
encourage and ask. At the end of the day, you know,
they're all adults and don't make their own choices.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Not helpful that I'd imagine. Listen, do you actually think,
be honest with me, you can't keep this together. This
thing is going to fall apart.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Were going to give it our best shot. And you know,
from from the discussions we had with Rowdy and deb
and also today with Takuta, you know there's still a
glimmer of hope and and that's what we let you go onto.
We've asked to bring up at the Marai and you know,
if we can get there before it all falls to bits,

(03:22):
you know, that would be the best outcome. So that's
what we pushed today. Takuta agreed to next week. And
here's let's keep.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
With you on the other question, Baden, why are you guys,
as the EWEE chairs Forum, so invested in what's going
on with the Maori Party, Like would you do the
same thing if there were members of the Labor Party
who were in the Marii Electricity who are having in
fighting like this, would you step in as well?

Speaker 2 (03:50):
It would depend. I mean we're we're stepped in because
there is an election in twelve months time. We're pretty
adamant at this government needs to go. I mean we've
been challenged like no other generation in the last couple
of years. So yeah, we've got a bigger picture ahead

(04:13):
of us. There's white stake and having the Marti Party
and fighting twelve months out from an election when they
should be pumping out policy before Christmas is not good.
And so you know it's not just about mighty party politics.
You know, the feeling goes right out to all mighty communities,

(04:34):
even though they might not be mighty party supporters. So
people are hurting, People are you know, confused, and you
know he just wants to stop. And that's why the
ewhas have stepped in.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
All right, Baden, thanks very much for your time. Good
luck with us. It seems like a hard job. Baden Barber,
Nazi Kahungu Chairman. For more from Hither duplessy Ellen Drive,
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