With Meka Whaitiri deciding to resign from the Labour Party, and immediately join Te Pāti Māori, electoral law experts thought that would trigger her seat to be immediately vacated.
Under party hopping rules in the Electoral Act, the case seemed to be clear cut.
But the speaker, Adrian Rurawhe, announced that Meka Whaitiri would remain in Parliament, but now as an independent MP.
The legal ramifications have caused some confusion, including to University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis, who spoke with Corin Dann.
