Adrian Rurawhe


Adrian Paki Rurawhe is a New Zealand politician of Ngāti Apa descent and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He was first elected at the 2014 general election as a representative of the Labour Party for Te Tai Hauāuru and was re-elected in 2017.

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 Rātana 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 Ngāti 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 Māori Party between 2004 and 2008.
At the, after Turia had retired from politics, Rurawhe contested the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate for Labour and defeated Chris McKenzie of the Māori Party) He defended his incumbency with an increased majority over the Māori Party's Howie Tamati in.
Rurawhe was elected to the office of Assistant Speaker at the State Opening of Parliament, the 52nd Parliament of New Zealand. National party member Hon Simon Bridges tried challenging Rurawhe's election to the Chair on grounds that Rurawhe's name was still on the door of the Whip's office. Speaker Trevor Mallard ruled that a name on a door in Parliament is not binding on the House and that the Speaker's office had already been notified in writing that Rurawhe was not a Whip, so the election could proceed.