Former speaker Adrian Paki Rurawhe has died following a recent illness, his family have announced.
Rurawhe was Speaker in the last Labour Government’s second term and was an MP in the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate since 2014.
Over the course of his parliamentary career, he held several senior roles including Speaker of the House of Representatives from August 2022 to December 2023.
Earlier this year he retired from politics.
In a statement, his family said: "It is with deep sadness that after a recent illness we announce the passing of The Right Honorable Adrian Paki Rurawhe MP, of Ratana Pā.
"Son of the late Wereta and Mihi Rurawhe. Brother of Christina and Michael, Jackie and Gwen, Gaylene and Cedric, Walter and Toni. Mokopuna of the late Matiu TW Ratana MP and Iriaka Ratana MP and the late Paki and Meipara Rurawhe. Loved by all his nieces, nephews and mokopuna.
"The whānau are slowly coming to terms with such a great loss. Not only to our whānau, but to his church Te Haahi Ratana, his Iwi of Ngāti Apa and Whanganui, and his former colleagues in the House of Representatives where he served as a Member of Parliament from 2014 to January 2026."
His whānau added on social media this morning that he "passed peacefully surrounded by love, with his whānau close by".
"We are incredibly grateful for the many messages, prayers, thoughts and expressions of aroha that have been shared with Adrian and our whānau during this time."
Rurawhe would lay in state at Whangaehu Marae before being laid to rest at Ngā Puketuurua, Ratana Pā.
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