Ngira Simmonds challenges Te Pāti Māori leadership at AGM, questioning their ability to unite the party. He references Parliament as a house of lions, but queries who the real lion is, attacking certain party members. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi reminds the audience that the government is the only enemy. The AGM, held at Waiatuhi marae in Rotorua, had about 200 attendees, following months of turmoil and the expulsion of two MPs. Simmonds speaks of the pain felt by the membership and the wider Māori community, referencing the late Māori king's call for unity. He questions the party's direction, asking who should unite the party now, and challenges the leadership's ability to address the issues. Waititi responds, acknowledging the pain within the party and the Māori community, and calls for unity and a focus on the government as the enemy. He criticizes the use of social media to air grievances and emphasizes the need for face-to-face communication. The meeting is seen as a call for the people, not the MPs, to decide the party's future. Simmonds and Waititi both emphasize the importance of unity and addressing the party's internal issues.
