Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died

Deeply sad moment for the Māori Party with the death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp…

Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp dies

Kemp revealed in July last year that she was battling kidney disease, and announced plans to take a six-week break from Parliament to focus on her recovery.

The MP had been on dialysis as she battled the disease. She was on a waiting list for a replacement kidney and her death has come as a surprise to those close to her.

It is understood the MP died around 2am in Auckland. 1News has reached out to Te Pāti Māori for comment.

Her death will trigger a byelection in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate.

Kemp will be held at Hoani Waititi Marae for a period, before heading home to Taihape where she is from.

…this is a tragic moment for the Māori Party but the by-election could generate a real moment of solidarity and a true test of where the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate is at.

The stain of allegations against the win of Tāmaki Makaurau by Kemp in the last election has so far amounted to nothing at all and those feelings of righteous anger will be beneath the surface of the grieving.

This all amounts to a very powerful emotion that will drive this by-election.

Kia kaha to Kemp’s comrades and whanau. She was a mighty leader. Her fight continues at the by-election.

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