Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma, who was kicked out of Labour's caucus, has resigned from the seat and is starting his own political party.
The Prime Minister says she urged Mr Sharma to stay as an independent MP, and had no intentions of using the waka-jumping legislation to push him out of parliament.
His departure's triggered a by-election, which Jacinda Ardern says will be a waste of taxpayer time and money.
University of Auckland Professor of Politics Jennifer Curtin spoke to Guyon Espiner.
