Meka Whaitiri. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri is to resign from the Labour Party to instead stand for Te Pāti Māori.
RNZ understands Whaitiri, who has been MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti since a by-election in 2013, will make the announcement on Wednesday morning at Waipatu Marae in Hastings.
She holds the seat with a comfortable margin and is expected to be able to win it easily for Te Pāti Māori.
It had already announced Heather Skipworth as the candidate but she will now step aside.
Whaitiri was sacked from her ministerial portfolios in 2018, following allegations she bullied a staffer.
She was resinstated as minister outside Cabinet in 2020, and currently serves as minister of customs, veterans, and food safety.
The MP, ranked number 20 in the Labour caucus, also has ministerial responsibility for the Hawke's Bay cyclone response, following the sacking of Stuart Nash.
A spokesperson for the acting prime minister said they had nothing further to add at this point.
RNZ has contacted Meka Whaitiri and Te Pāti Māori for comment.