David Seymour has criticised media coverage of a recent hīkoi (protest march), questioning why reports fail to mention the organiser’s political affiliations.
In a tweet, Seymour noted that Eru Kapa-Kingi, the hīkoi leader, is employed by Te Pāti Māori in Parliament and was a candidate for the party in the 2023 election.
Eru Kapa-Kingi, a well-known Māori activist from Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi serves as Vice-President Tāne and advisor for Te Pāti Māori (TPM).
Older media reports confirm Kapa-Kingi is the son of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, the TPM MP for Te Tai Tokerau. This connection, along with his own candidacy listed ninth on the party’s list in the 2023 general election, has led some, like Seymour, to argue for transparency in media reporting on politically affiliated protest leaders.
Notably, the other leader of Toitū te Tiriti is Kiri Tamihere-Waititi. She is the wife of TPM co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and daughter of TPM president and Waipareira Trust CEO John Tamihere. The trust, a government-funded charity, is also participating in the hīkoi.
State media RNZ refers to Toitū te Tiriti simply as a “grassroots movement” with reports falling short of fully recognising these ties. Recent Herald reports refer to Toitū te Tiriti as “Te Pāti Māori-aligned” while a Stuff report mentions Tamihiri-Waititi’s TPM connections in a photo subset.
Centrist Ltd. 2024