Preceded by Tariana Turia Name Adrian Rurawhe | Majority 1,453 Role Politician | |
Relations Matiu Ratana (grandfather)
Iriaka Ratana (grandmother)
T. W. Ratana (great-grandfather) Profiles | ||
Pōti17: Labour's Adrian Rurawhe buoyed by 'Jacinda effect'
Adrian Paki Rurawhe (born 1960/1961) is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of the Labour Party.
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Family and professional career
Rurawhe is a grandson of Matiu and Iriaka Ratana, who were both MPs for Western Maori. He is a great grandson of Ratana founder T. W. Ratana.
His grandfather died before he was born, and he was at secondary school before he was aware that his "Nan" was an MP. Koro Wetere the former Eastern Maori MP encouraged his early involvement in politics and continues to be a mentor for him, so has been the most influential person on him politically.
Rurawhe has a background in health and education. He was the chairman of the Ngati Apa iwi for ten years and was on the team that negotiated the 2011 treaty settlement with The Crown through the Waitangi Tribunal.
Political career
Rurawhe worked alongside Tariana Turia, to whom he is related, when she was still a member of the Labour Party. He was a member of the Maori Party between 2004 and 2008.
After Turia had retired from politics, Rurawhe contested the Te Tai Hauauru electorate and defeated Chris McKenzie of the Maori Party in the 2014 election.