Andrew Geddis: Otago University law professor explains why Meka Whaitiri remains a sitting MP despite existing legislation - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A constitutional law expert has explained why Meka Whaitiri remains a sitting MP, despite legislation stopping party waka-jumping.

She's crossing the floor to run as Te Pāti Māori's candidate in her Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat this October, quitting Labour.

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

Otago University law professor Andrew Geddis says how the law's interpreted sits with the Speaker.

"What the Speaker of the House appears to have decided is that because she didn't specifically use the words: 'I want to be an independent' or 'I want to sit for another party' in her correspondence with him, those laws haven't been triggered."

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