How to refute accusations of dictatorial behaviour

A former vice-president of your party (and son of one of your MPs) says your party is run like a dictatorship.

When this accusation is put to the co-leaders, the male co-leader refuses to answer and heads off. He sees the female co-leader is not following him and may be about to answer the question, so he grabs her and drags her away with him.

Yes, this will indeed convince people that Te Pati Maori is a democratically run party.