Meka Whaitiri has ditched Labour, but will remain an MP as an independent representing Ikaroa Rāwhiti, Speaker Adrian Rurawhe says.
“Meka Whaitiri is from today regarded as an independent member for parliamentary purposes,” Rurawhe told the House ahead of question time on Wednesday.
The Opposition questioned why Whaitiri could remain an MP, given just hours earlier she said she had written to Rurawhe to tell him she had resigned as a member of the Labour Party and was joining Te Pāti Māori.
During an emotional speech at Waipatu Marae, Whaitiri said: “This morning I have notified the speaker I have resigned from the New Zealand Labour Party and have joined Te Pāti Māori.”
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In 2018, the Labour-NZ First Government passed the controversial “waka jumping” law. The law was meant to prohibit MPs from switching parties midterm, without causing a by-election.
“I have not received any letter of resignation, signed or unsigned,” Rurawhe said.
John Cowpland/Stuff
Meka Whaitiri has ditched Labour for Te Pāti Māori.
He told the House that as Speaker, he couldn’t consider the comments made by Whaitiri outside of Parliament – or through other parties. He said he had to rely on her communications with him and the House, and that her speech at Waipatu Marae did not count as a resignation.
Rurawhe said he had received an email from Whaitiri, in which she asked to be seated next to the Māori Party – and move off the Government bench.
“She has asked me and informed me that she has withdrawn her proxy from the Labour Party, and she wishes to sit somewhere else. That’s it,” he said.
Acting Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni said Labour would not push for her to be removed as an MP.
