Te Pati Maori expels two MPs

Te Pati Maori has expelled Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. I can’;’t recall if any party has ever before expelled two MPs at once, let alone a third of their caucus.

What is also unusual is there appears to have been no due process where they get to argue in their defence.

They will now sit as Independent MPs in Parliament. It is not yet known if TPM will try and expel them from Parliament. That would need the support of all four remaining TPM MPs (it needs two thirds majority of their original caucus). If they proceed down that route, then there would be by-elections in Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Tonga.

Once again I remind people that not a single poll since the last election shows Labour could form Government without the support of Te Pati Maori.