Former Labour MP and Minister Meka Whaitiri abruptly resigned and jumped ship to the Maori Party.

Many of her former Labour colleagues were caught off guard by the announcement, including Acting Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Chris Hipkins.

Speaker Adrian Rurawhe rules she'll now be an independent MP, for Parliamentary purposes.

ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper was also surprised by Meka Whaitiri's resignation and notes that the current Maori caucus have become less unified over time.

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