Meka Whaitiri

Meka Whaitiri
63rd Minister of Customs
In office
6 November 2020 – 3 May 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins
Preceded byJenny Salesa
Succeeded byDamien O'Connor (acting)
In office
26 October 2017 – 30 August 2018
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byTim Macindoe
Succeeded byKris Faafoi
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
In office
29 June 2013 – 14 October 2023
Preceded byParekura Horomia
Succeeded byCushla Tangaere-Manuel
Personal details
Born
Melissa Heni Mekameka Whaitiri

(1965-01-11) 11 January 1965 (age 59)
Political partyTe Pāti Māori (2023–present)
Labour (before 2023)
Children2

Melissa Heni Mekameka Whaitiri (born 11 January 1965) is a New Zealand politician and former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. She was first elected to Parliament in the 2013 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election for the Labour Party.

Whaitiri served as Minister of Customs for the Sixth Labour Government on two separate occasions but resigned from her party on 3 May 2023 to contest the 2023 general election for Te Pāti Māori.[1] For the remainder of the parliamentary term, she was treated as an independent member in the House,[2] and was defeated in her bid to retain Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by the Labour candidate, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1News20230503 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Meka Whaitiri remains an MP - 'waka-jumping' law not triggered - Speaker". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2023.