This is edition 2025/200 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. The Emptiness of the Te Pāti Māori turmoil
Bryce Edwards
- ⚖️ No Hero, No Cause: Te Pāti Māori’s internal conflict isn't a noble cause but a messy, power-driven struggle with both sides deeply flawed.
- 💥 Public Civil War: What began as a behind-the-scenes fight escalated to a public feud between party president John Tamihere and rebellious MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris.
- 🎭 Power, Not Principles: The conflict is about control and pride, not policy or principle, with both factions fighting for dominance.
- 💬 Ultimatum Issued: Tamihere publicly excommunicated the two MPs on social media, marking the conflict’s point of no return.
- ⚡ No Grand Ideology: The feud isn’t rooted in policy differences, but in personal ambition and status, like Kapa-Kingi’s frustration with list rankings.
- 💸 Nepotism and Entitlement: The Kapa-Kingi faction, despite criticizing Tamihere’s leadership, is also entangled in nepotism and financial mismanagement.
- 🤥 Rebels' Lack of Principle: Kapa-Kingi and Ferris haven’t presented a different policy vision, merely fighting for leadership positions.
- 🏛️ Leadership Fiasco: Tamihere’s heavy-handed leadership style and nepotism, like appointing family members to top roles, mirror the very criticisms he faces.
- 💣 Dirty Politics: Tamihere’s camp leaked compromising information on Kapa-Kingi to discredit the rebels, revealing the party’s toxic culture.
- 🤦 A Party in Crisis: Both sides are discredited—Tamihere as an autocrat, Kapa-Kingi and Ferris as opportunists—leaving the party in turmoil.
- 🚨 Disillusioned Māori Voters: The infighting has shifted focus away from addressing critical Māori issues, like poverty and housing, leaving voters frustrated and betrayed.
- 🔍 Māori Political Future in Question: The chaos raises doubts about the future of Māori representation, as voters may seek alternatives or disengage entirely.
- 💥 Te Pāti Māori's Reputation at Risk: The party’s credibility is at an all-time low, and its failure to deliver substantive change for Māori communities is harming its political standing.
- 💡 Integrity and Unity Needed: The party must regain its integrity and focus on its original mission to survive. This may require leadership changes or a fresh approach.
- 🏚️ Fading Promise: Te Pāti Māori’s internal strife is putting its promise of strong Māori political representation at risk. Without reform, the party may become irrelevant.
