Meka defects

Te Ao Maori News reports:

Labour cabinet minister Meka Whaitiri is expected to resign from Labour and stand as a candidate for the Māori Party in the upcoming election.

Te Ao Māori News has been told Whaitiri will make a formal announcement tomorrow at Waipatu Marae in Hastings.

This is pretty huge. She is a serving Minister and there has been no big policy dispute, like Turia had over Foreshore and Seabed.

It’s a huge blow to Labour. They probably won’t keep the seat at the election, and having a Minister defect looks like a sinking ship.

I suspect her jumping is partially because she was not promoted back into Cabinet.

It is great for the Māori Party. They now have a very good chance of winning three electorates, and this gives them momentum to maybe get even more. Former Labour MP Louisa Wall is also likely to stand for them.

But there is a downside. The more seats the Māori Party wins, the more likely it is that after the election we get a Labour/Green/Māori Party coalition Government. This Government would be the most radical in our history, and beyond doubt equality of suffrage will be on the negotiating table for at least local elections.