The National Party has labelled Te Pāti Māori attempts to welcome Meka Whaitiri into the house with a whakawātea yesterday as grandstanding.
Christopher Luxon and Meka Whaitiri. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon / VNP / Phil Smith
It was the first day back in the house for Ms Whaitiri after leaving the Labour Party and giving up her ministerial portfolios.
Te Pāti Māori informed other parties of their intentions to perform the whakāwatea, but hadn't sought permission, leading to speaker Adrian Rurawhe ejecting Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer from the house.
The National Party is still eager for Meka Whaitiri to release correspondence she had with the speaker announcing her resignation from the Labour Party, which somehow didn't trigger the waka jumping laws.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
