Meka Whaitiri

The Honourable 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 (1965-01-11) 11 January 1965 (age 59)
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.^[1] For the remainder of the parliamentary term, she was treated as an independent member in the House,^[2] and was defeated in her bid to retain Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by the Labour candidate, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.