Te Pāti Māori refuses to explain lack of financial statement
Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Te Pāti Māori is refusing to explain why it has failed to file a financial statement, as required under law.
The Electoral Commission earlier this month published political parties’ annual financial statements, but Te Pāti Māori’s statement was missing. It referred the party to police over the matter, and this week the police said it continued to assess the referral and would not comment.
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer were similarly unwilling to comment when approached on Wednesday.
“That's a party issue and, you know, we probably asked those questions as much as you have this morning, ah, today, and so we will continue to leave it in the space that it is,” Waititi said.
“We asked for those things to be investigated ourselves by the police. So we're just waiting for that. But it's a party issue. You want to get any more answers. It's a party issue.”
In June, the Government ordered an independent inquiry into allegations that census data and information collected during the Covid-19 vaccine drive was misused by Manurewa Marae to help Te Pāti Māori’s campaign. Stats NZ, the Privacy Commissioner, and police were also investigating complaints.
Days before the Government sought the inquiry, Te Pāti Māori also publicly urged a police investigation into the allegations.
Ngarewa-Packer said the financial statement issue was related to other inquiries faced by the party.
“We've been politicians since 2023 and some of the inquiries and financial [issues] are from before we were MPs, so it's a party matter,” she said.
Waititi then said the pair would not answer any more questions about the matter: “We'll walk away if you're not going to stop.”
Asked why party officials would not respond to questions, Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer then walked away.
“You spoiled it,” Waititi said.
The Post has again contacted party president John Tamihere and party secretary Lance Norman and received no response.