Adrian Rurawhe

Adrian Paki Rurawhe (born 1961)[2] is a New Zealand politician of Ngāti Apa descent and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives (MP). He was first elected at the 2014 general election as a representative of the Labour Party for Te Tai Hauāuru and was re-elected in 2017.

Adrian Rurawhe

MP
Rurawhe in 2020
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
26 November 2020
Preceded byAnne Tolley
Second Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office
8 November 2017 – 26 November 2020
Preceded byTrevor Mallard
Succeeded byJacqui Dean
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Te Tai Hauāuru
Assumed office
20 September 2014
Preceded byTariana Turia
Majority1,053
Personal details
Born1961 (age 59–60)
RelationsMatiu Ratana (grandfather)
Iriaka Rātana (grandmother)
T. W. Ratana (great-grandfather)
Matt Ratana (cousin)[1]
Websitewww.labour.org.nz/adrianrurawhe

Family and professional career

Rurawhe is a grandson of Matiu and Iriaka Rātana, who were both MPs for Western Maori. He is a great grandson of Rātana founder T. W. Ratana.[3]

His grandfather died before he was born, and he was at secondary school before he was aware that his "Nan" was an MP. Koro Wetere the former Eastern Maori MP encouraged his early involvement in politics and continues to be a mentor for him, so has been the most influential person on him politically. [4]

Rurawhe has a background in health and education.[5] He was the chairman of the Ngāti Apa iwi for ten years[5] and was on the team that negotiated the 2011 treaty settlement with The Crown through the Waitangi Tribunal.[6]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st Te Tai Hauāuru none Labour
2017–2020 52nd Te Tai Hauāuru none Labour
2020–present 53rd Te Tai Hauāuru 24 Labour

Rurawhe worked alongside Tariana Turia, to whom he is related, when she was still a member of the Labour Party.[5] He was a member of the Māori Party between 2004 and 2008.[7]

At the 2014 election, after Turia had retired from politics, Rurawhe contested the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate for Labour and defeated Chris McKenzie of the Māori Party.[5][8]

During the 2017 general election, Rurawhe successfully retained Te Tai Hauāuru for Labour.[9][10]

Following the formation of the Sixth Labour Government in October 2017, Rurawhe was elected to the office of Assistant Speaker at the State Opening of Parliament, the 52nd Parliament of New Zealand. National Party MP Simon Bridges tried challenging Rurawhe's election to the Chair on grounds that Rurawhe's name was still on the door of the Whip's office. Speaker Trevor Mallard ruled that a name on a door in Parliament is not binding on the House and that the Speaker's office had already been notified in writing that Rurawhe was not a Whip, so the election could proceed.[11]

During the 2020 general election, Rurawhe won re-election, defeating the Māori Party's candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. When the official results were released, Rurawhe had a majority of 1,035,[12] but after the Māori Party requested a recount in Te Tai Hauāuru, Rurawhe's majority increased slightly to 1,053.[13][14] Following the election, Rurawhe was nominated as Deputy Speaker in the new Parliament, and was formally appointed to the role on 26 November.[15]

References
  1. "NZ-born officer Matiu Ratana fatally shot in England". Radio New Zealand. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  2. "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  3. Stowell, Laurel (17 December 2013). "Rurawhe new Labour candidate". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. Interview in Dominion Post, 31 January 2015 p C5
  5. Ihaka, James (22 September 2014). "Election 2014: Rurawhe has big shoes to fill". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  6. "Settlement". Ngāti Apa. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  7. Small, Vernon (6 December 2013). "Ratana progeny likely candidate". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  8. Grocott, Matthew (27 September 2014). "Rurawhe regains seat for Labour". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018.
  9. "MP plans to stand for reelection in 2017". Stuff). 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018.
  10. "Official Count Results – Te Tai Hauauru". Wellington: Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  11. "Wednesday, 8 November 2017 - Volume 725". New Zealand Parliament. 8 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  12. "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  13. "Amended Official Result for the Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Hauāuru Electoral Districts". New Zealand Gazette. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  14. Maxwell, Joel (19 November 2020). "Māori Party-sought recount sees fewer votes for co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer". Stuff. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  15. "Daily progress for Thursday, 26 November 2020". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Tariana Turia		 Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauāuru
2014–present		 Incumbent
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