Mita Ririnui

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The Honourable
Mita Ririnui
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Labour party list
Assumed office
2005
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Waiariki
In office
1999 – 2005
Succeeded by Te Ururoa Flavell
Majority 6,717 (44.44%)[1]
Personal details
Born Tauranga, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Children 7
Residence Tauranga
Religion Rātana
  1. At 2002 election

Mita Michael Ririnui was a New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He was a member of parliament from 1999 to 2011.

Early years

Ririnui was born in Tauranga. He obtained his education from Tauranga Boys' College, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, University of Waikato and Massey University. Before entering politics, Ririnui worked for a number of notable Maori community organisations including Te Puni Kōkiri, and he is a registered minister of the Rātana church.[1]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1999–2002 46th Waiariki 47 Labour
2002–2005 47th Waiariki 32 Labour
2005–2008 48th List 15 Labour
2008–2011 49th List 23 Labour

Ririnui was originally elected to Parliament as the MP for the Māori electorate of Waiariki, winning the 1999 elections from Tuariki Delamere. However, in the 2005 election, he lost his electorate seat to Te Ururoa Flavell of the Māori Party and remained in Parliament as a list MP.

Ririnui became a Minister outside Cabinet in 1999, having Associate Ministerial roles in the Corrections, Health, and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, and Forestry portfolios. He also chaired the Labour Party's internal Maori Caucus.[2]

Labour was defeated in the 2008 general election, meaning that Ririnui was unable to retain his ministerial positions. He was unsuccessful at regaining Waiariki, but his list placing of 23 ensured his return to Parliament on the Labour list.

On 14 June 2010, 4 days after the release of ministerial credit card records, Ririnui along with two other MPs Chris Carter MP (Lab - Te Atatu) and Shane Jones MP (Lab - List) were demoted by Opposition Leader Phil Goff MP (Lab - Mt. Roskill) for misuse of such credit cards. In the case of Ririnui, he was accused of purchasing items such as golf clubs and a bike which violate the rules regarding the usage of ministerial credit cards. Ririnui reimbursed Ministerial Services at the time for the purchases. Ririnui's demotion includes the loss of the shadow portfolio of Forestry and the relocation of his seat to the backbenchers out of public view.[3]

In February 2011 Ririnui announced that he would retire at the 2011 election.[4]

References

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New Zealand Parliament
New constituency Member of Parliament for Waiariki
1999–2005
Succeeded by
Te Ururoa Flavell