A riddle: when is a waka jump not a waka jump? Apparently, when former Labour MP, now Te Pāti Māori MP, Meka Whaitiri does the leaping. Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe has decreed that her resignation email did not meet the criteria for what, under the so-called waka-jumping law, ought to have forced her to give up her Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat.
He hasn’t released her email, if indeed there is an email, although apparently there is no legal reason he can’t. He said: “I think it would be a dangerous situation for the Speaker of the House to start interpreting things that are clearly not being officially submitted to me. Now, as I began my ruling, members can say whatever