Meka Whaitiri jumps waka to Te Pāti Māori

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Although her move to join Te Pati Maori has blindsided the Prime Minister, Meka Whaitiri’s defection could have benefits for Labour.

Chris Hipkins was on a plane to London when news of her switch began to leak out. He learned about it after he landed, and could only say he hadn’t heard from Whaitiri yet. Acting PM Carmel Sepuloni also said it was news to her.

An emotional Whaitiri announced her decision this morning at Waipatu marae in Hastings. Heather Skipworth, previously confirmed as the candidate, is stepping down voluntarily to make way.

While it was a surprise to her Labour colleagues, the move makes sense for the Manutuke-born Whaitiri who holds the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat that includes Tairawhiti, which she inherited from another prominent local the late Parekura Horomia — for whom she was the electorate manager.

Having been turned down for a return to Cabinet by the last two prime ministers, she is the Minister of Customs, Veterans’ Affairs and Food Safety outside Cabinet. She is currently ranked 20th on the Labour Party list and realistically could not expect promotion within Labour.

Her switch was welcomed by Te Pati Maori president John Tamihere who said she was crossing the floor to her own emancipation — walking away from a sure thing and doing it “for the mana of our people”.

Whaitiri said she was acknowledging her whakapapa and the calling of her whakapapa. The move was effective immediately.

She did have ministerial responsibility for the Hawke’s Bay cyclone response after Stuart Nash was sacked. There are, however, bonuses for Labour in her decision.

Polling indicates that Labour will need the support of more than the Green Party if it is to win a third term in the October election.

In that sense its key prospective ally would be Te Pati Maori. Despite the odd contretemps, the two parties are philosophically close and are reported to have been meeting together regularly.

Polling has bounced around for Te Pati Maori but Whaitiri’s move will be a significant boost. She is likely to secure another electorate seat and the party an invaluable three to five seats for a Labour-led coalition.

The timing of her announcement means there will be no need to hold a by-election, because an election will be held within six months of her resignation — as is also the case for Jacinda Ardern in Mount Albert.

So while it is not a good look for the Government, Whaitiri’s switch is far from a disaster for Labour.