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

The Customs Minister is expected to make an announcement at Waipatu Marae in Hastings in a couple of hours.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he's left a message with Whaitiri, and he'd expect her to return his call if she has something significant to say.

Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking the Labour Party has been caught completely off guard.

“It is rather unprecedented to see somebody that holds ministerial portfolios openly musing about going to another party.”

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