Shane Reti

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Shane Reti
QSM MP
Shane Reti lays wreath 2021 (cropped).jpg
Reti in 2021
18th Deputy Leader of the National Party
In office
10 November 2020 – 30 November 2021
LeaderJudith Collins
Preceded byGerry Brownlee
Succeeded byNicola Willis
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
In office
10 November 2020 – 30 November 2021
LeaderJudith Collins
Preceded byGerry Brownlee
Succeeded byNicola Willis
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party list
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Whangarei
In office
20 September 2014 – 17 October 2020
Preceded byPhil Heatley
Succeeded byEmily Henderson
Personal details
Born
Shane Raymond Reti

(1963-06-05) 5 June 1963 (age 58)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Political partyNational Party
Children3
ResidenceWhangārei
Profession
  • Politician
  • General Practitioner
Websitehttps://shanereti.national.org.nz
Military service
Allegiance New Zealand
Branch/serviceNew Zealand Army
Years of service1983–1987
UnitTerritorial Force

Shane Raymond Reti QSM MP (born 5 June 1963) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, first elected at the 2014 general election. He is a member of the New Zealand National Party and served as its deputy leader from 10 November 2020 to 30 November 2021 including a period of five days as interim leader following the ousting of Judith Collins.

Early life and family[]

Born in Hamilton in 1963,[1] Reti is of Māori descent, and has tribal affiliations to Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Kapotai and Ngāti Maniapoto.[2][3][4] He was educated at Hamilton Boys' High School and Minidoka County High School in Idaho, United States. He then studied at the University of Waikato from 1981 to 1982 and the University of Auckland between 1982 and 1987 and in 1989, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Human Biology in 1985, MB ChB in 1987 and a Diploma in Obstetrics in 1989. He was also awarded a Diploma in Dermatological Science by the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1991.[1]

Reti served in the Territorial Force from 1983 to 1987.[1] He played badminton for Waikato between 1978 and 1982.[1]

Professional career[]

Reti worked as a general practitioner for 17 years.[5][6] For seven years and three consecutive terms he served as a member of the Northland District Health Board.[6] In the 2006 New Year Honours he was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public services.[7]

In 2007 Reti was awarded a NZ Harkness Fellowship to Harvard Medical School and moved to Massachusetts to work at Harvard University.[6][8] Reti remained in Boston for six years and resisted offers by Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth and Harvard Medical School to extend his stay.[6]

Political career[]

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st Whangarei 60 National
2017–2020 52nd Whangarei 45 National
2020–present 53rd List 5 National

Fifth National Government, 2014–2017[]

Early in 2014, Reti won the National Party nomination in the safe Whangarei electorate against sitting list MP Paul Foster-Bell for the 2014 election.[8] At the 2014 election, he had a large margin over Labour's Kelly Ellis.[8]

During the Northland by-election, Reti was accused of bullying Alex Wright of the Pipiwai Titoki Advocacy group, a group campaigning to seal the "dusty and dangerous foresty roads" in Northland. Wright claimed that Reti rang her and told her to keep quiet until after the by-election or get nothing. Reti responded that he was attempting to help the group.[9]

Sixth Labour Government, 2017–present[]

During the 2017 election, Reti was re-elected in Whangārei, defeating Labour candidate Tony John Savage by a margin of 10,967 votes.[10] Following the formation of the Labour-led coalition government, Reti became National's Associate Spokesperson for Health and Deputy Chaiperson of the Health Select Committee. He was later appointed as the party's spokesperson for "data and cybersecurity" and "disability issues."[11] In January 2019, Reti was designated as National's spokesperson for "tertiary education, skills, and employment."[12][13]

Between 25 March and 26 May 2020, Reti was a member of the Epidemic Response Committee, a select committee that considered the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] On 2 July, Reti was promoted to number 13 on the National Party's list ranking within Todd Muller's shadow cabinet and also given the associate drug reform portfolio.[15][16]

On 15 July 2020, Judith Collins, the new Leader of the Opposition, announced that Reti was to be promoted to Spokesperson for Health for National.[17][18][19]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election held on 17 October, preliminary results had Reti ahead of Labour candidate Emily Henderson in the Whangārei electorate by 162 votes.[20] Following the publication of official results on 6 November, he lost the seat to Henderson by 431 votes.[21] He returned to Parliament on the National Party list.[22]

Reti lays a wreath on behalf of the Opposition on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Wellington, during the 2021 Armistice Day commemoration

On 10 November, Reti was unanimously elected as the deputy leader of the National Party during a party caucus meeting.[23][24]

In mid November 2021, Reti briefly served as interim leader of the National Party after Judith Collins lost a vote of no confidence. [25][26] On 30 November, he was succeeded by Christopher Luxon, who became the party's new leader and the new Leader of the Opposition.[27]

In early February 2022, Reti petitioned SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for assistance in providing Starlink satellite technology to Tonga following the island country's loss of internet connection due to the Hunga Tonga tsunami. In response, Musk had offered to provide Starlink's terminals to Tongan technology on Twitter. After the Tongan authorities accepted Musk's request, the Fijian Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum subsequently confirmed that SpaceX engineers would establish and operate a temporary ground station in Fiji to assist with efforts to restore Internet access in Tonga. Reti had informed the Tongan Consul and Minister for Pacific Peoples William Sio, who supported his efforts to secure help for Tonga.[28]

Views and positions[]

Abortion[]

Reti voted against the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.[29]

Euthanasia[]

Reti voted against the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[30]

Obesity[]

In mid-November 2020, Reti supported National Party leader Judith Collins' earlier remarks about obesity being a matter of personal responsibility. Reti said that National had a "good obesity framework" and that people could be trusted to make the right choice with the "right information." While acknowledging that socio-economic and genetics were factors in obesity, he added there were other reasons including medical factors for putting on weight.[31]

Conversion therapy ban[]

In early August 2021, Reti sought an exemption for parents regarding the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, which proposes banning conversion therapy.[32] On 8 February 2022, he was one of seven National Party MPs who voted against the bill at its second reading.[33] The National Party allowed its MPs a conscience vote on the bill, abandoning its previous policy of bloc voting against it.[34]

Personal life[]

Reti has three adult children: two daughters and one son.[35] Reti was raised a Mormon but no longer attends church.[36]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. ISSN 1172-9813.
  2. ^ "Reti tribe's pick for National leader". Waatea News. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. ^ Moir, Jo (14 June 2021). "Ngāpuhi to decide on women's speaking rights". Newsroom. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Reti, Shane". Hansard. 713: 10633. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Dr Shane Reti picked as National's candidate for Whangarei electorate". The New Zealand Herald. 7 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d Dinsdale, Mike (27 January 2014). "Trio put hands up to represent National". The Northern Advocate. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. ^ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Election 2014: Shane Reti wins Whangarei". The New Zealand Herald. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Dusty road group claim bullying". Radio New Zealand. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Whangarei – Official Result 2017". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Dr Shane Reti". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Bennett named drug reform spokesperson in shadow cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  13. ^ Coughlan, Thomas (22 January 2019). "Bridges begins year with a reshuffle". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Epidemic response". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  15. ^ Cooke, Henry (2 July 2020). "National reshuffle: Simon Bridges gets foreign affairs role, but not a high ranking". Stuff. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. ^ Cheng, Derek (2 July 2020). "National's Todd Muller's first reshuffle – winners and losers revealed". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  17. ^ Deguara, Brittney (15 July 2020). "'Just Shane, a Māori boy from Northland': Who is National's new health spokesman?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020.
  18. ^ Walls, Jason (15 July 2020). "Election 2020: New National leader Judith Collins demotes Woodhouse, makes Shane Reti new health spokesman". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  19. ^ Houlahan, Mike (16 July 2020). "Woodhouse takes medicine". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  20. ^ Martin, Hannah (19 October 2020). "Election 2020: National retains Whangārei and Northland seats – but only just". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Whangārei – Official Result". Elecotral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  23. ^ McCulloch, Craig; Scotcher, Katie (10 November 2020). "Shane Reti becomes new deputy leader of the National Party". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  24. ^ Manch, Thomas; Cooke, Henry (17 November 2020). "Shane Reti elected unopposed as new deputy leader of the National Party". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  25. ^ Ensor, Jamie (25 November 2021). "National leadership crisis live: Shane Reti new temporary boss, leadership to be decided Tuesday". Newshub. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  26. ^ "National leadership: Judith Collins dumped; Shane Reti interim leader; Mark Mitchell, Christopher Luxon likely candidates". The New Zealand Herald. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Christopher Luxon voted new National Party leader as Simon Bridges withdraws". Radio New Zealand. 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami: Elon Musk's SpaceX reportedly in Fiji preparing to help with telecommunications". The New Zealand Herald. 6 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Abortion Legislation Bill — Third Reading". Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  30. ^ "End of Life Choice Bill — Third Reading". Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  31. ^ Satherley, Dan (14 November 2020). "Obese Kiwis with socio-economic or genetic reasons 'not the bigger group' – Shane Reti". Newshub. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  32. ^ "National wants exemption for barbaric therapy". . 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill — Second Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022.
  34. ^ Whyte, Anna (9 February 2022). "Bill to ban conversion practices passes second hurdle". 1 News. TVNZ. Retrieved 9 February 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ Deguara, Brittney (25 November 2021). "'Just Shane, a Māori boy from Northland': Who is National's new health spokesman?". Stuff.
  36. ^ Malpass, Luke (5 September 2020). "Who is Shane Reti, National's new deputy leader?". Stuff.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Whangarei
2014–2020 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Gerry Brownlee
 Deputy Leader of the National Party
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
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