Meka Whaitiri

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about coverage putting the Loafers Lodge disaster in context - even in the midst of chaos and confusion, some impressive… Audio

Te Pāti Māori livestreams from local marae don’t usually attract much mainstream media interest. But the defection of government minister Meka Whaitiri on Wednesday was carried by every major outlet… Audio

Shock of Meka Whaitiri's switch to Te Pati Maori later turned to confusion, after the Speaker ruled she can remain in Parliament as an independent MP. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson spoke to… Audio

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Kelvin Davis, denies his fellow Maori MPs are shackled in the party. Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri yesterday announced she was leaving Labour to join Te Pati… Audio

The Prime Minister says he's still not heard from Meka Whaitiri a day after she walked from the Labour Party. Chris Hipkins says he does not believe Ms Whaitiri's snap defection indicates the Labour… Audio

Meka Whaitiri's defection from Labour has thrown wide open the contest for the normally safe Labour seat of lkaroa-Rawhiti. Ms Whaitiri remains in Parliament as an independent MP - but intends to… Audio

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Meka Whaitiri's defection to Te Pāti Māori taking the media by surprise, a media organisation and a politician censured… Audio

Senior member of Labour's Māori caucus, Willie Jackson, says he's disappointed by Meka Whaitiri's decision.

He spoke to Charlotte Cook. Audio

Labour Minister Meka Whaitiri has this morning announced her immediate resignation from the party.

At a closed event at Waipatu Marae in Hastings, Ms Whaitiri told the crowded room she had notified… Audio

In a surprise move Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced she has left Labour and will stand instead for Te Pati Maori. She will not be ejected from Parliament under "waka jumping" legislation… Audio

The government minister Meka Whaitiri has formally announced her defection from Labour. She will stand for Te Pati Maori in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate, which she currently holds. Speaking at… Audio

In an extraordinary move the Labour Minister Meka Whaitiri is ditching her party to stand for Te Pati Maori in October's general election. The Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP, will make the announcement at 9:30 on… Audio

Te Pati Maori is celebrating a win today as Labour Minister Meka Whaitiri shifts allegiance and ditches Labour. The Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP will stand for Te Pati Maori in October's general election. Former… Audio

In a surprise move the government minister Meka Whaitiri is set to resign from Labour and join Te Pati Maori. RNZ understands Ms Whaitiri, who has been MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti since a by-election in… Audio

The Veterans Minister. Meka Whaitiri, says there is a need to further modernise the way New Zealand acknowledges its veterans.

Tomorrow marks the first ANZAC Day in three years that Covid-19 has not… Audio

The government has allocated almost 15 million dollars towards upgrading the country's last four remaining Maori boarding schools. The Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson announced the final… Audio

Tairawhiti police are worried the local community is developing a tolerance towards gang-related violence.

This comes as two shootings took place within days of each other in Wairoa earlier this… Audio

The Minister for Veterans, Meka Whaitiri, is on her way to Turkey to attend the first public ANZAC ceremony on the Gallipoli Peninsula since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, today marked the… Audio

Official Anzac commemorations will once again be held at Gallipoli in Turkey.

Two previous commemorations were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Defence force personnel from both New Zealand… Audio