Labour minister Meka Whaitiri to stand for Te Pāti Māori

Labour minister Meka Whaitiri will stand for Te Pāti Māori next election, Stuff understands.

She is expected to officially announce her candidacy for Te Pāti Māori on Wednesday. By switching sides, Whaitiri is expected to lose her positions as a minister in the Labour Government.

Her surprise decision comes while Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is offshore, in the UK ahead of King Charles’ coronation. Hipkins will now need to find new minsters for customs, food safety and veterans affairs.

It appeared Whaitiri’s news came as a surprise to her Labour colleagues on Tuesday night.

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A spokesperson for acting prime minister Carmel Sepuloni said she was aware of “speculation”, but had nothing to say about it on Tuesday.

Te Pāti Māori had already announced Heather Skipworth as its candidate for Te Tai Rāwhiti, a seat currently held by Whaitiri. However, Stuff understands an announcement will be made on Wednesday at Hastings’ Waipatu Marae about the seat.

Party president John Tamihere said, late on Tuesday, “all will be revealed tomorrow at Waipatu Marae.”

He said Whaitiri would confirm her intentions, both as a minister and her future in politics, on Wednesday. He avoided revealing too much ahead of the official announcement, but confirmed he’d been in discussions with her.

”She is not a waka jumper, she is a minister of the present Government and will be confirming her position tomorrow,” he said.

Skipworth and Whaitiri have not responded to Stuff’s requests for comment on Tuesday night.

Whaitiri has been in Parliament for Labour since 2013. She entered Parliament in a by-election, following the death of Parekura Horomia.

Te Karere said it had interviewed Whaitiri about her decision to stand for Te Pāti Māori.