Meka Whaitiri
Meka Whaitiri | |
|---|---|
| 63rd Minister of Customs | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 3 May 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Jenny Salesa |
| Succeeded by | Damien O'Connor (acting) |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 30 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Tim Macindoe |
| Succeeded by | Kris Faafoi |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti | |
| In office 29 June 2013 – 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Parekura Horomia |
| Succeeded by | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melissa Heni Mekameka Whaitiri 11 January 1965 |
| Political party | Te Pāti Māori (2023–present) Labour (before 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
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. For the remainder of the parliamentary term, she was treated as an independent member in the House, and was defeated in her bid to retain Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by the Labour candidate, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.