Minister and National MP for Whangārei Hon Dr Shane Reti QSM is retiring from politics at the next general election.
Dr Reti paused a medical career and was elected as the first Māori MP for Whangārei in 2014 and has served 4 terms across 12 years.
“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.
“Highlights include progressing the 4 lanes to Whangārei and advancing policies that as Minister of Health expanded breast cancer screening for 70–74-year-old NZ women and established a 3rd 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 7 Crown Research Institutes into 3 Public Research Organisations.”
Dr Reti has been Minister of Health, Minister for Universities, Minister for Science Innovation & Technology, Minister for Statistics and Minister for Pacific Peoples.