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Summarised by Centrist
Takutai Tarsh Kemp, the Te Pāti Māori MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, died aged 50 after a prolonged illness.
Her passing triggered a flood of tributes across Parliament, where MPs spoke emotionally of her passion, conviction and advocacy for Māori youth and South Auckland.
What went unspoken in the chamber was Kemp’s connection to serious allegations involving the misuse of private data at Manurewa Marae, where she served as CEO before entering politics.
The controversy centred on unauthorised data sharing with Te Pāti Māori and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, both closely tied to party leadership and Kemp’s political allies.
The Privacy Commissioner began investigating the matter in 2023. While no findings were released before her death, the unresolved nature of the case cast a long shadow.
Kemp was still contacting constituents in her final hours and appeared in Parliament the day before she died. She had recently reaffirmed her party’s message, telling the House that Te Pāti Māori would never leave anyone behind.
Political rivals who had previously criticised her conduct largely put those concerns aside in tribute.
The by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau will now reopen the political contest. Kemp’s legacy and the controversies surrounding her may both resurface in sharper focus.
Image: By Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives of New Zealand
