May 05, 2023
By-election constitutional right, says Peters
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Meka Whaitiri should face a by-election in Ikaroa Rāwhiti.
Speaker Adrian Rurawhe yesterday ruled out the need for a by-election because Ms Whaitiri did not formally advise him, she had quit the party – her letter said her vote would no longer be cast by Labour, and she wanted to sit next to the Māori Party MPs.
Mr Peters says there is no comparison with his departure from National, because he first stood in a by-election as an independent and then formed New Zealand First to fight the next general election.
He says Ms Whaitiri has got no compelling reason for the switch, and the way she has done it is a deception on the voters of Ikaroa Rāwhiti who voted for a Labour MP.
“It’s a change that has to be endorsed by the voters, not just by yourself so to speak, and I think so many politicians don’t understand the constitutional requirements they should be acting under, and that’s why this sort of thing is happening,” Mr Peters says.