Te Pāti Māori livestreams from local marae don’t usually attract much mainstream media interest. But the defection of government minister Meka Whaitiri on Wednesday was carried by every major outlet after Whakaata Maori’s late-night scoop sparked a media scramble. It also created a “constitutional cluster” that needed clarity.
Meka Whaitiri with Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, and party president John Tamihere. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green
