Minister and National MP for Whangārei Shane Reti has announced he will retire from politics at the upcoming election.
The National MP was elected as the first Māori MP for Whangārei in 2014 and has served four terms across 12 years.
In a statement, Reti said: "I want to thank the people of Whangārei for the great privilege of serving them and to my partner and family for their understanding and unconditional contribution to this career."
"I have always felt valued by the National Party and for that I thank the Prime Minister, local party executive, and my colleagues and staff in Wellington and Whangārei offices for their support over many years as Whangārei MP, Deputy Leader of the National Party, Interim leader of the National Party and as a Minister."
Reti had served as the Minister of Health, Minister for Universities, Minister for Science Innovation & Technology, Minister for Statistics and Minister for Pacific Peoples throughout his time in politics.
He served as the interim leader of the National Party for five days between November 25 to November 30, 2021 after then leader Judith Collins lost the job and before current leader, Christopher Luxon, took over.
Reti lost his role as Health Minister in January 2025 after around a year in the position.
Luxon said at the time that while Reti had worked hard to reset the culture and performance of Health NZ, “I have also heard Kiwis’ concerns that they expect to see even more progress – ensuring they can access the care they need, when they need it”.
He was replaced by Simeon Brown.
Reti said the highlights of his career included progressing the “four lanes to Whangārei” and advancing policies as Minister of Health which “expanded breast cancer screening for 70–74-year-old New Zealand women” , as well as establishing "a third medical school at Waikato”.
“Reshaping the science and technology sector to look more like other small advanced economies that improves benefits to taxpayers has been a privilege – especially amalgamating the seven Crown Research Institutes into three Public Research Organisations.”
SHARE ME