Rino Tirikatene

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Rino Tirikatene

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Profile--rinotirikatene-390x2-UNC.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Tirikatene in 2023

| office = 11th Minister for Courts

| term_start = 1 February 2023

| term_end = 27 November 2023

| primeminister = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor = William Sio

| successor = Nicole McKee

| constituency_MP1 = Labour party list

| parliament1 = New Zealand

| term_start1 = 14 October 2023

| term_end1 = 28 January 2024

| successor1 = Tracey McLellan

| constituency_MP2 = Te Tai Tonga

| parliament2 = New Zealand

| term_start2 = {{start date|2011|11|30|df=yes}}

| term_end2 = {{end date|2023|10|14|df=yes}}

| predecessor2 = Rahui Katene

| successor2 = Tākuta Ferris

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1972}}

| birth_place = Rangiora, New Zealand

| death_date =

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| restingplace =

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| nationality =

| party = Labour Party

| otherparty =

| spouse =

| partner =

| relations = Eruera Tirikatene (grandfather)
{{nowrap|Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (aunt)}}

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

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| cabinet =

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| signature =

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| website = [https://www.labour.org.nz/rinotirikatene Party website]

| footnotes =

}}

Rino Tirikatene (born 1972){{cite web |url= https://www.parliament.nz/media/6305/roll-of-members-of-the-new-zealand-house-of-representatives-1854-onwards.pdf |title=Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards |date=24 May 2019 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=3 September 2020}} is a New Zealand Labour Party politician and a former member of the House of Representatives. He comes from a family with a strong political history.

Tirikatene represented the Te Tai Tonga Māori electorate from the {{NZ election link|2011}} until the {{NZ election link|2023}}, when he was returned to Parliament as a list MP. He retired from politics in January 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507639/labour-s-rino-tirikatene-retiries-from-politics|title=Labour's Rino Tirikatene retiries from politics|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=26 January 2024}}

Early life

Born in Rangiora, Tirikatene affiliates to the Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Hine iwi.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/mpp/mps/current/50MP202251/tirikatene-rino |title=Rino Tirikatene |date=25 July 2013 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament|access-date=25 July 2013}} He is the grandson of Sir Eruera Tirikatene and the nephew of Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan. His grandfather and aunt between them held the Southern Maori electorate for 64 years from 1932 and 1996. As such, the name Tirikatene is for many voters synonymous with the Māori electorate that covers the southern part of New Zealand.{{cite news|last=Potiki|first=Tahu|title=When politics is in the DNA|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/tahu-potiki/5990395/When-politics-is-in-the-DNA |access-date=29 November 2011|work=The Press |date=18 November 2011}}

Prior to running for parliament, Tirikatene worked as a commercial lawyer with Simpson Grierson and in a variety of Māori economic development roles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.labour.org.nz/rinotirikatene|title=Rino Tirikatene|website=NZ Labour Party}}

Member of Parliament

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 50th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2011}}

|end = 2014

|electorate = Te Tai Tonga

|list = 45

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 51st

|start = {{NZ election link year|2014}}

|end = 2017

|electorate = Te Tai Tonga

|list = none

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 52nd

|start = {{NZ election link year|2017}}

|end = 2020

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|electorate = Te Tai Tonga

|list = none

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 53rd

|start = {{NZ election link year|2020}}

|end = 2023

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|electorate = Te Tai Tonga

|list = 29

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 54th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2023}}

|end = 2024

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|electorate = List

|list = 21

}}

=In Opposition, 2011–2017=

Tirikatene stood for Labour in Te Puku O Te Whenua in the 1996 election.{{cite news |title=Another Tirikatene standing for Parliament |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/63115/another-tirikatene-standing-for-parliament |access-date=29 November 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=2 December 2010}} His father, Rino Tirikatene Senior, was originally selected for the seat but died suddenly on the campaign trail. Tirikatene was asked to replace his father.{{cite news| url= http://www.odt.co.nz/election-2011/-south/186593/politics-family-affair-tirikatene |title=Politics a family affair for Tirikatene |work=Otago Daily Times |date=15 November 2011 |access-date=3 October 2014}} That year, New Zealand First won all Māori electorates, with Rana Waitai beating Tirikatene and Tu Wyllie defeating Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan.{{cite news |title=Former NZ First MP says party's return counterproductive |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/92256/former-nz-first-mp-says-party%27s-return-counterproductive |access-date=29 November 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=28 November 2011}}

He was selected to represent Labour in the Te Tai Tonga electorate on 1 December 2010.{{cite news |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1012/S00005/rino-tirikatene-wins-labours-te-tai-tonga-selection.htm |title=Rino Tirikatene wins Labour's Te Tai Tonga selection |publisher= Scoop |date= 1 December 2010}} Te Tai Tonga is one of the seven Māori electorates, covers the South Island plus Wellington{{cite news|last=Fensome|first=Alex|title=Labour candidate eyes Southland |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5818026/Labour-candidate-eyes-Southland |access-date=29 November 2011| work=The Southland Times|date=20 October 2011}} and is New Zealand's largest electorate by area.{{cite news |last=Birchfield|first=Daniel|title=Labour's Tirikatene focuses on the elderly|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/communities/5698713/Labours-Tirikatene-focuses-on-the-elderly |access-date=29 November 2011| work=The Timaru Herald|date=28 September 2011}} In the 2011 New Zealand general election, Tirikatene was placed at number 45 on the Labour Party list.{{cite press release |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1104/S00194/labour-party-list-2011.htm |title=Labour Party List 2011 |publisher=New Zealand Labour Party |website=Scoop |date=10 April 2011}}

He contested the Te Tai Tonga electorate against the incumbent, Rahui Katene of the Māori Party. Labour's selection of Tirikatene was criticised as cynical by Katene, as they are both from the same hapū, but this was rejected by Tirikatene, as "all Maoris connect up somewhere along the line". Tirikatene won the electorate with a margin of 1,475 votes.{{cite web| url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-69.html |title=Official Count Results – Te Tai Tonga |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=3 October 2014 |publisher=Electoral Commission}} The electorate had previously been held by Labour, from {{NZ election link year|1999}} until 2005.{{cite news |title=Maori Party loses Te Tai Tonga |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/6041733/Maori-Party-loses-Te-Tai-Tonga |access-date=29 November 2011 |work=The Dominion Post|location=Wellington |date=26 November 2011}}

In 2013, Tirikatene voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which aims to permit same sex marriage in New Zealand, with fellow Labour MPs William Sio, Ross Robertson and Damien O'Connor.{{cite news |title=Gay marriage: How MPs voted |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gay-marriage-how-mps-voted/WLPKK4734FBZEKJIDHBFO4MWFA/ |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=18 April 2013}}

Tirikatene significantly increased his majority in the {{NZ election link|2014}} and again in 2017.{{cite web| url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-70.html |title=Official Count Results – Te Tai Tonga |date=21 September 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014 |publisher=Electoral Commission}}{{Cite web|title=2017 General Election Results of the Official Count|url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2017-au5252|access-date=2020-08-02|website=gazette.govt.nz}} In Opposition for the six years of his Parliamentary career, Tirikatene served variously as the Labour Party spokesperson for customs, fisheries, tourism and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations, as well as holding a number of associate spokesperson roles.{{Cite web|title=Tirikatene, Rino – New Zealand Parliament|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/tirikatene-rino/|access-date=2020-08-02|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|language=en}}

=In Government, 2017–2023=

When the Labour Party formed a coalition government in 2017, Tirikatene was appointed chairperson of the Māori Affairs select committee.

During the 2020 general election, Tirikatene was re-elected by a margin of 6,855 votes, retaining Te Tai Tonga for Labour.{{cite web |title=Te Tai Tonga – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-71.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=13 November 2020 }}

In early November 2020, Tirikatane was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries and Minister for Trade and Export Growth with responsibility for Māori Trade.{{cite web |title=Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-11/ministerial-list-2-nov-2020.pdf |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 November 2020 |date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103122141/https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-11/ministerial-list-2-nov-2020.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2020|url-status=live}} In a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on 31 January 2023 Tirikatene was appointed Minister for Courts and Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth.{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/483394/prime-minister-chris-hipkins-reveals-cabinet-reshuffle |title=Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle |date=31 January 2023 | work=Radio NZ | access-date=31 January 2023 }}

=In Opposition, 2023–2024=

During the 2023 general election, Tirikatane was unseated from his electorate seat by Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party) candidate Tākuta Ferris by a margin of 2,824 votes.{{cite web |title=Te Tai Tonga – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-71.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108043455/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-71.html |archive-date=8 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}} Tirikatane was re-elected to Parliament on the Labour party list.{{cite web |title=2023 General Election – Successful Candidates |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122030023/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=22 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government in late November 2023, Tirikatene became spokesperson for corrections and land information in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.{{cite news |title=Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503581/labour-party-leader-chris-hipkins-reveals-new-shadow-cabinet#:~:text=The%20full%20line%2Dup%3A,Grant%20Robertson%20%2D%20Finance%2C%20Racing |access-date=18 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211134745/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503581/labour-party-leader-chris-hipkins-reveals-new-shadow-cabinet#:~:text=The%20full%20line%2Dup%3A,Grant%20Robertson%20%2D%20Finance%2C%20Racing |archive-date=11 December 2023}}

On 5 December 2023, Tirikatene was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his term as a member of the Executive Council.{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2023-vr5732 |title=Retention of the title "The Honourable" |date=8 December 2023 |work=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=8 December 2023}}

Tirakatene announced on 26 January 2024 that he would be resigning from Parliament with effect from 28 January, to "reset and take up new opportunities" – and would not be making a valedictory speech. The next candidate on Labour's party list, Tracey McLellan, would take up the seat vacated by Tirakatene.{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/507639/labour-s-rino-tirikatene-retires-from-politics |title=Labour's Rino Tirikatene retires from politics |date=26 January 2024 |work=Radio NZ |access-date=27 January 2024}}