Mita Ririnui
Encyclopedia
Mita Michael Ririnui is a New Zealand
politician and a member of the Labour Party
. He has been a member of parliament since 1999.
. 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.
, 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.
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.
In February 2011 Ririnui announced that he would retire at the 2011 election.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician and a member of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He has been a member of parliament since 1999.
Early years
Ririnui was born in TaurangaTauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
. He obtained his education from Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College is a state secondary school for boys, located on the edge of the downtown area of Tauranga, New Zealand. The school was founded in 1958. The school prides itself on its successful involvement in academia, sport and the arts.-History:...
, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
According to its Bay of Plenty Polytechnic offers the largest range of New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved programmes in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty....
, University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
and Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
. Before entering politics, Ririnui worked for a number of notable Maori community organisations including Te Puni Kōkiri
Te Puni Kokiri
Te Puni Kōkiri is a New Zealand Public Sector Department responsible for Māori public policy and policy affecting Māori.The department, called TPK for short, reports to the Minister of Māori Affairs...
, and he is a registered minister of the Rātana
Ratana
The Rātana movement is a Māori religion and pan-tribal political movement founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in early 20th century New Zealand...
church.
Member of Parliament
Ririnui was originally elected to Parliament as the MP for the Māori electorate of WaiarikiWaiariki (New Zealand electorate)
Waiariki is a New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate.It is currently held by Te Ururoa Flavell MP.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Tauranga* Whakatane* Rotorua* Taupo-Tribal Areas:...
, winning the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
from Tuariki Delamere
Tuariki Delamere
Tuariki John Delamere is a former New Zealand politician. He served as an MP from 1996 to 1999, and was a member of Cabinet for the duration of his term.-Before politics:...
. However in the 2005 election, he lost his electorate seat to Te Ururoa Flavell
Te Ururoa Flavell
Te Ururoa James William Ben Flavell is a New Zealand politician and serves as a member of the New Zealand Parliament.-Ancestry:...
of the Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
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.
Labour was defeated in the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, 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.
In February 2011 Ririnui announced that he would retire at the 2011 election.