“To the voters of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, I have served you tirelessly for 10 years,” an emotional Ms Whaitiri said. “I have spoken my truth. The decision is in your hands.”
It was not an easy decision but it was the right decision, she said.
Te Pāti Māori was an unapologetically Maori party.
“We see you, we hear you, we will serve you.”
Māori political activism was part of being Māori, Ms Whaitiri said.
“It comes from our whakapapa.”
Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere, before Ms Whaitiri confirmed her political future, expressed confidence she would retain the seat she has held for 10 years.
“If it’s a by-election, we’ll run over the top of them. If there’s an election, we’ll do the same.”
Mr Tamihere said Ms Whaitiri was “coming home to her whakapapa” and it took “enormous courage for her to do this . . . she’s walking away from a ministerial job, she’s walking away from a sure thing and she’s walking into an unknown, but she’s doing it for the mana of our people and that is something special.
“She’s crossing the floor to cross the bridge to her own emancipation from being controlled by others to a party that she controls.”
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he first learned of the news after he landed in the United Kingdom as part of a trip to attend the coronation of King Charles III, and last spoke to Ms Whaitiri before the Easter recess.
He told reporters he had left her a message after hearing the news and “would expect if there was anything significant happening in that area that she would give me a call”.
Heather Skipworth had been announced to run in the seat for Te Pāti Māori but will step aside.
Ms Skipworth, along with party co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, were at Ms Whaitiri’s announcement this morning.
Ms Skipworth was the candidate for the then-named Maori Party at the last general election when Ms Whaitiri retained the electorate by 6405 votes.
Ms Whaitiri is widely expected to win Ikaroa-Rāwhiti in October’s general election which would guarantee Te Pāti Māori a parliamentary presence and boost Labour’s chances of becoming only the third Labour Government to win a third term.
Melissa Heni Mekameka Whaitiri.
Born in Manutuke, January, 1965.
Rongowhakaata, Ngati Kahungunu affiliations.
Brought up in Hastings.
Head girl at Karamu High.
Has two children.
First elected to Parliament in a 2013 by-election for Ikaroa-Rawhiti following the death of former Maori Affairs minister Parekura Horomia.
Was deputy secretary in the Department of Labour and senior adviser to Mr Horomia.
Held pivotal roles in Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.
Has represented the electorate since 2013 and defeated Maori Party’s Helen Skipworth by 6405 votes three years ago.
Became a minister outside of Cabinet in 2017.
Was part of the Labour Maori Caucus which decided in 2017 to stand as electorate candidates only and succeeded in removing the Maori Party from Parliament.
Was sacked from her ministerial portfolios in 2018 following allegations of bullying a staffer.
Reinstated as minister outside Cabinet in 2020 and was serving as minister of customs, veterans and food safety.
When elected in 2013, she said she would serve for 10 years. She later changed that to 10 years “in power”. Labour has been in power for six years.
