File photo. Mariameno Kapa-Kingi speaking in Parliament this year. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Ousted Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says she is likely to file court action to challenge her expulsion from the party.
It comes after a period of public infighting between Kapa-Kingi, fellow expelled MP Tākuta Ferris, and the party's leadership - co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, as well as party president John Tamihere.
Kapa-Kingi spoke to Morning Report on Monday, saying lawyers had been talking - but she was willing to take the matter to the courts if it came to that.
On the face of it, Kapa-Kingi said she "had to" agree she had been expelled from the party but she would continue to push back and challenge it.
There was a "process in train" despite her not liking it and believing it "completely unjust".
But she still believed in the movement and was hopeful there would still be a place for her in Te Pāti Māori - if the leadership changed.
Kapa-Kingi told Morning Report the leadership of Ngawera-Packer and Waititi was where the changes needed to occur.
She said there had been a breach of the constitution in the way things had been handled so far, saying what has occurred is "unacceptable".
She said the constitution required a "legitimate" meeting of about 30 party members - but there had "barely" been seven or 10 in attendance.
"That's being challenged," she said.
Kapa-Kingi has called a hui for this weekend, where she wants an explanation from the party's executive about her expulsion.
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