Shane_Reti

Shane Reti

Shane Reti

New Zealand politician


Shane Raymond Reti QSM MP (born 5 June 1963) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister of Health and Minister for Pacific Peoples, since 27 November 2023. He was first elected at the 2014 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Whangārei electorate. 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.

Quick Facts 44th Minister of Health, Prime Minister ...

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 Rupert, Idaho,[5] 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.[6][7] For seven years and three consecutive terms he served as a member of the Northland District Health Board.[7] In the 2006 New Year Honours he was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public services.[8]

In 2007 Reti was awarded a NZ Harkness Fellowship to Harvard Medical School and moved to Massachusetts to work at Harvard University.[7][9] Reti remained in Boston for six years and claims to have resisted offers by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School to extend his stay.[7]

Reti has continued to be a practising doctor during his time in parliament. In 2019 Reti was one of a team who administered the meningococcal vaccine at Hikurangi primary school after the local community raised money to buy the vaccine.[10] In 2021 Reti travelled Northland administering COVID-19 vaccinations.[11] In 2021 industry publication New Zealand Doctor indicated that having a doctor high up is important to the profession, announcing "Shane Reti is the first GP, and first medical practitioner, to become leader of the National Party".[12]

Political career

Fifth National Government, 2014–2017

Early in 2014, Reti won the National Party nomination in the safe Whangārei electorate against sitting list MP Paul Foster-Bell for the 2014 election.[9] At the 2014 election, he had a large margin over Labour's Kelly Ellis.[9]

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.[13]

Sixth Labour Government, 2017–2023

During the 2017 election, Reti was re-elected in Whangārei, defeating Labour candidate Tony John Savage by a margin of 10,967 votes.[14]

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 for disability issues.[15] In January 2019, Reti was designated as National's spokesperson for tertiary education, skills, and employment.[16][17] 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.[18] 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.[19][20] 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.[21][22][23]

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.[24] Following the publication of official results on 6 November, he lost the seat to Henderson by 431 votes.[25] He returned to Parliament on the National Party list.[26]

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.[27][28]

In mid November 2021, Reti briefly served as interim leader of the National Party after Judith Collins lost a vote of no confidence.[29][30] On 30 November, he was succeeded by Christopher Luxon, who became the party's new leader and the new Leader of the Opposition.[31]

On 17 January 2022, Reti successfully petitioned SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite technology to Tonga after the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai tsunami.[32] Tonga lost internet connectivity to the world after the underwater cables were ruptured during the eruption and resulting tsunami. Reti did not have a pre-existing relationship with Musk but reasoned that "I guess Elon Musk can only say no and if you don't ask you don't know".[32] In response Musk's SpaceX set up a free high-speed internet service for the affected remote islands, to remain until they could be reconnected by cable. In acknowledging the 50 VSAT terminals provided free of charge the Tongan Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, said "It is rather paradoxical for a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami to bring to our shores the latest in satellite and communications technology".[33]

In March 2022, the New Zealand Herald removed an opinion piece Reti had written. In it, he claimed that self-harm had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; other journalists using the same data found the opposite, and a data journalist for the Herald called the graphs in the article "poor and misleading".[34]

In mid-March 2022, Reti was moved up from fifth to fourth place during a reshuffle of Luxon's shadow cabinet.[35]

In mid-July 2023, 1 News reported that Reti accompanied Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics as an observer on weekend shifts for nearly three months. According to Reti, New Zealand health workers were overworked and emergency departments were under-staffed and over-resourced. Reti defended his actions, stating that he complied with St John's and Wellington Free Ambulance's policies and procedures.[36] In response to concerns about privacy and patient consent, St John's and Wellington Free Ambulance developed a new agreement on managing ambulance observers.[37]

Sixth National Government, 2023present

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Reti won the Whangārei electorate by a margin of 11,424 votes and defeated Labour candidate Angie Warren-Clark.[38]

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government in late November 2023, Reti was appointed as Minister of Health and Minister for Pacific Peoples.[39]

On 28 November Reti, in his capacity as Health Minister, defended the Government's plans to scrap the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, which reduced the number of retailers allowed to sell tobacco to 600 and banned anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes. Reti argued that vaping would be the primary way to reduce smoking under the new Government. He also defended the Government's plans to dissolve Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), stating that decision-making should be devolved at the hapū (sub-tribe level) rather than centralised in Wellington.[40] Reti and the Government drew criticism from Tongan community leader Pakilau Manase Lua, the New Zealand Council of Medical Colleges chair Dr Samantha Murton, and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall over their plans to repeal Smokefree legislation, scrap the Māori Health Authority, and review the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand law.[41][42]

On 15 December, Waatea News reported that Reti and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey had several initial meetings with Te Aka Whai Ora's chief executive Riana Manuel. While Reti confirmed that the Government would proceed with its plans to dissolve the organisation, he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continue working with iwi-Māori partnership boards on the health needs of the Māori community including mental health.[43] On 18 December, Radio New Zealand reported that Reti was tasked with reviewing the University of Auckland's Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS), an affirmative action programme seeking to boost the number of Māori and Pasifika medical graduates. Reti had benefitted from the programme while studying to be a doctor at University of Auckland.[44]

On 19 December, Reti appointed Ken Whelan as a Crown observer to Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), citing ongoing challenges that the public health service was facing following the previous Labour Government's 2022 health reforms.[45] On 21 December Reti announced that the Government would invest in a NZ$50 million package over the two next years to help Māori health providers boost low immunisation rates within the Māori community.[46]

Political positions

Medical marijuana

Reti authored a private members bill in 2018 that would have extended access to medical, but not recreational, marijuana.[47]

Euthanasia

Reti voted against the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[48]

Abortion

Reti voted against the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.[49]

When asked for his comments on the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, and whether similar changes could take place in New Zealand, Reti stated "That would always be a decision for caucus, and so I'm not going to offer a position here now, but we are mindful in watching what happens with Roe vs Wade".[50]

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.[51]

Cancer treatment access

Reti authored a private members bill [52] to allow unfunded cancer medication to be administered in public hospitals.[53] Under the bill patients would continue to pay the cost of unfunded medicines, but not for the administration of them. The bill was drawn from the ballot in 2021.

Fluoridation

Reti is a supporter of fluoridation, having self-sponsored work to implement it in Northland [54] but did not support removing fluoridation decisions from the local DHB.[55]

Conversion therapy ban

Reti was one of only eight MPs to vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022. The then-leader of the National Party Judith Collins instructed all National MPs to vote against the bill at its first reading, and as party deputy leader Reti defended the party's position and sought to add an exemption to the bill for parents regarding bill. National's leadership changed to Christopher Luxon who allowed his MPs to vote according to their conscience; Reti voted against the bill at its second reading, and at its third and final reading.[56][57][58][59] Reti said he abhors conversion therapy but "What is not clear in the bill is the protection of reasonable parents having reasonable conversations with their children."[60]

Personal life

Reti has three adult children: two daughters and one son.[61] Reti was raised a Mormon but no longer attends church.[62]


References

  1. 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. Husband, Dale (5 September 2020). "Shane Reti: National's rising star". E-Tangata. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  6. "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.
  7. 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.
  8. "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.
  9. "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.
  10. "Meningitis vaccinations: 'This is such a relief'". RNZ. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  11. "Shane Reti becomes first GP to lead the National Party". New Zealand Doctor. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  12. "Dusty road group claim bullying". Radio New Zealand. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  13. "Whangarei – Official Result 2017". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  14. "Dr Shane Reti". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  15. "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.
  16. Coughlan, Thomas (22 January 2019). "Bridges begins year with a reshuffle". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  17. "Epidemic response". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. Houlahan, Mike (16 July 2020). "Woodhouse takes medicine". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  21. 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.
  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. "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.
  27. Needham, Kirsty (23 February 2022). "Musk's Starlink connects remote Tonga villages still cut off after tsunami". Financial Post. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  28. Sowman-Lund, Stewart (7 March 2022). "Shane Reti opinion piece pulled after 'misleading' mental health graphs". The Spinoff. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  29. "National's Reti says he followed rules while shadowing medics". 1 News. TVNZ. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  30. Wade, Amelia (26 July 2023). "Health NZ gives St John scolding after it let National MP Dr Shane Reti tag along on night shifts, enter facilities". Newshub. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  31. "Whangārei - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  32. "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  33. "Health Minister Shane Reti defends government's plan to scrap smokefree legislation". Radio New Zealand. 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  34. Palmer, Russell (13 December 2023). "Health Minister Shane Reti offers cursory response over smokefree protest". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  35. "Māori health boss Riana Manuel calls meeting with Health Minister Shane Reti 'encouraging'". The New Zealand Herald. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  36. Stewart, Ella (18 December 2023). "Health Minister Shane Reti responsible for review of 'affirmative action' scheme he graduated from in 1980s". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  37. "Crown observer to be appointed to Health New Zealand". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  38. "$50 million to lift immunisation rates". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  39. 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.
  40. Press Release: Cancer Society (6 August 2021). "Dr Shane Reti's Member's Bill Pulled From Ballot | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  41. Giovannetti, Justin (2 September 2020). "Do no harm: Dr Shane Reti on leading National's changed Covid-19 response". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  42. "Politicians react as bill to ban conversion therapy passes". RNZ. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  43. "National wants exemption for barbaric therapy". Waatea News. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  44. Whyte, Anna (9 February 2022). "Bill to ban conversion practices passes second hurdle". 1 News. TVNZ. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
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