Former Te Pati Maori staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi, son of Te Pati Maori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, says he is engaging legal counsel over what he claims is "false korero" impacting his family

The incident deepens the rift between Eru Kapa-Kingi and the party.

Eru Kapa-Kingi alleged it had resulted in his nieces and nephews being falsely accused of "wrongly being on their whenua ".

He says when the Maori Party executive refuses to engage with tikanga practices and refuses to comply with their own legally binding constitution, he has no options left

The move comes after Mariameno Kapa-Kingi was reportedly suspended by Te Pati Maori.