Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Ousted Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is taking the party's president John Tamihere to court.
Kapa-Kingi was expelled from the party, alongside Tākuta Ferris, in early November after a period of internal conflict.
Iwi leaders had been hopeful the party's two factions could patch things up at a hui in Wellington last month.
The party's co-leaders instead announced the national council had voted to expel them, with immediate effect, over "serious breaches" of the party's consitution.
In response to news of his expulsion at the time, Ferris issued a statement, saying the decision "is plainly unconstitutional".
"I do not acknowledge the decisions and illegal resolutions made through unilateral measures."
In a statement posted on social media, Kapa-Kingi also called the decision unconstitutional and said she intended to appeal it "in all respects".
"In the meantime, I remain the duly elected Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau and will continue to stand for, and show up for the people of Te Tai Tokerau to do the job I was elected to do."
Te Pāti Māori more recently declined an offer by Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi to meet in Kaikohe to discuss the expulson of Kapa-Kingi.
The now-independent Te Tai Tokerau MP is now applying for an interim injunction (a temporary court order halting a specific action) against president Tamihere and others.
While no details have been released, the hearing will likely be a challenge to the legality of the party's decision to expel the Northland MP.
The hearing is set down for 10am on Thursday in the High Court in Wellington.
Kapa-Kingi and Tamihere have both been approached for comment.
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