Being booted out by former Speaker of the House of Representatives Adrian Rurawhe has now become a fond memory for several MPs who attended his tangi today at Whangaehu Marae, Whanganui.
Rurawhe died from a recent illness, his whānau announced yesterday.
He had retired from politics earlier this year.
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.
A Parliamentary delegation, led by current Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee, today saw representatives from across the political spectrum attend to pay their respects to their former colleague.
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said Rurawhe was a “very loved” member of the team.
“We're all still dealing with the fact that he's gone so quickly after leaving Parliament. We were really sad to see him leave Parliament and to see him leave life so quickly is a real tragedy. He had still more to give and clearly his body didn't agree.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins described him as "one of the finest people ever to" be an MP. (Source: 1News)
Labour MP Willie Jackson said that Rurawhe had a “great calmness” that could be considered underrated.
“But when it came to the crunch, well, if you played up you get booted out, which he did with me! So he showed no favour which is why he was so good.
“I was a bit shocked, actually, at the time, but I think I deserved it so that's the type of bloke he was, underrated but very, very strong, so we just remember him fondly. He's such a huge loss.”
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said that while Rurawhe was a humble and gentle man, he was staunch too.
“I fondly think about him kicking me out of the House when I transgressed the rules, and that feels like an even bigger honour today. But we're here to uphold the whānau, the Labour Party in their time of grief, and his mana.”
Davidson, who was on the Māori Affairs select committee with Rurawhe, remembered a time they returned from a regional hearing.
“One night, when we were having to come back from a select committee, and he drove me all the way home, and that's one of the most beautiful memories I have is him and I, all of those hours of connecting.”
She said he talked mostly about his love for his region and Te Taihauāuru.
“He talked to me about the campaigns to consistently win the electorate. He talked to me about his whānau-led campaigns of his sisters and his whānau and his nieces and nephews all just pitching in. Those memories are even fonder for me today.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said Rurawhe was the first to suspend him for 24 hours, which he can laugh about now.
“I think it's only appropriate that we come here and mourn a rangatira. Somebody who has held the second highest democratic post in this country, second only to the Governor-General.
“We're very proud of that moment, as Adrian stepped in to that and, I think, made it his own. He was able to bring tikanga and the standing orders together. This is a sad day for te iwi Māori, this is a sad day for his people.”
Another former Speaker of the House and former Labour Party MP Trevor Mallard joined the delegation today. He said Rurawhe was an important part of his team during his tenure as Speaker.
“But more importantly, he was part of the Labour family, someone with incredible integrity, directness, but still so gentle. He was a wonderful man.”
He recalled how, as an Assistant Speaker, Rurawhe had such authority that he would simply look badly behaved MPs in the eye and they “settled down”.
A final service will be held tomorrow before Rurawhe is laid to rest at Ngā Puketuurua, Rātana Pā.
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