Senior Labour list MP Peeni Henare has announced he will not seek re-election at the next general election, saying it is time to focus on his family and wellbeing.
Henare, who was first elected to Parliament in 2014, said he had thought "long and hard" about his future over the summer.
"I have decided not to seek the nomination for Tāmaki Makaurau again or a place on the Labour Party list," he said in a statement.
The MP would be replaced by the next person on Labour's list, Dan Rosewarne.
His party said Henare would depart from Parliament "in the coming weeks".
The former minister of defence, tourism, and Whānau Ora represented the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate for nearly a decade and served in ministerial roles for six years.
Te Pāti Māori success will be heard loud and clear by the Labour Party faithful (Source: 1News)
He became a list MP at the last general election after losing to Te Pāti Māori candidate Takutai Tarsh Kemp, who died last year.
Henare ran again at last year's by-election to fill the seat, but again lost to former news broadcaster Oriini Kaipara, who also ran for Te Pāti Māori.
The departing Labour MP referenced his by-election loss in his leaving statement.
"Last year was tough after losing the by-election and, after careful consideration and kōrero with my whānau over the break, I have decided that it is time for me to take a step back from politics," Henare said.
“It’s time to focus on my family, my wellbeing and my future."
Henare said he would continue to support Labour from outside of Parliament.
“I want to thank my Labour caucus colleagues for all their support, and I will continue to tautoko their work and the party from outside Parliament," he said.
“It has been an honour to be a Labour MP and serve as a minister for six years, I’m proud of our record in Government and I know the next Labour government will continue the hard mahi."
His departure follows last month's announcement that another of Labour's longstanding Māori MPs, Adrian Rurawhe, would leave Parliament. Rurawhe's last day would be on Waitangi Day and Georgie Dansey will replace him as next on Labour’s party list.
Henare's name was floated by some as a potential leadership contender following Labour's shattering 2023 defeat and before Chris Hipkins confirmed he would stay on to lead the party to another general election.
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