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Rawiri Waititi

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Rawiri Waititi
MP
Waititi in 2024
Co-leader of Te Pāti Māori
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 October 2020
Co-leader with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Preceded byJohn Tamihere
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Waiariki
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byTāmati Coffey
Majority15,891
Personal details
Born1980 or 1981 (age 42–43)[1]
Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Political partyTe Pāti Māori (2016–present)
Labour (until 2016)
SpouseKiri Tamihere-Waititi
Children5
RelativesHoani Waititi (grand-uncle)
Dame June Mariu (aunt)
Kahurangi Waititi (relation)
Taika Waititi (relation)
Tweedie Waititi (relation)
Rob Ruha (relation)
John Tamihere (father-in-law)
ProfessionPolitician and Ringatū Minister
WebsiteMāori Party profile

Rawiri Wikuki Waititi (born 17 October 1980 or 1981) is a New Zealand politician and iwi leader. He has been co-leader of Te Pāti Māori since 2020, alongside Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Waiariki since 2020,[2] when his election returned Te Pāti Māori to the New Zealand Parliament following their defeat at the 2017 general election.

Born and raised in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Waititi whakapapas to many iwi but has firm links to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou. An advocate of progressive political policies,[3] Waititi is a fluent Māori speaker, and is also an iwi leader, Ringatū minister, and kapa haka exponent.[4] He has been prominent and vocal in his opposition to the policies towards Māori of the Sixth National Government of New Zealand since the 2023 general election.

Personal life

[edit]

Waititi was born in Ōpōtiki,[5] the eldest of four children. His birthday is 17 October.[6] He spent his first 12 years living in Whangaparāoa, in the eastern Bay of Plenty near Cape Runaway, and was schooled under the guidance of his kaumātua (elders) and his hapū, Te Whānau a Kauaetangohia. There he went to kōhanga reo and Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparāoa, before he moved to West Auckland when he was 13[5] to live with his paternal aunt, June Mariu, in Te Atatū North (now Te Atatū Peninsula). He did his secondary schooling at Rutherford High School[5] (now Rutherford College) alongside another politician, Simon Bridges.[citation needed]

Waititi is of the Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāi Tai, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui iwi, and also has "firm links" to Ngāti Porou.[7] He is a father of five[8] and husband to Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, the daughter of John Tamihere.[5] He is the grandnephew of Hoani Waititi.[9]

Political career

[edit]
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd Waiariki 2 Te Pāti Māori
2023–present 54th Waiariki 2 Te Pāti Māori

Labour Party, 2014–2016

[edit]

In the 2014 election, Waititi ran for the Labour Party in Waiariki.[9] As he was not placed on the Labour Party list, his only way to Parliament was to win Waiariki, however, he lost the seat of Waiariki to Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.[10]

Defection to the Māori Party

[edit]

In 2016, following Kīngi Tūheitia Paki's speech backing the Māori Party,[11] Waititi announced he would be supporting the Māori Party.[12]

2020 general election

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On 23 February 2020, Waititi was announced as the Māori Party candidate for Waiariki for the 2020 election. Following his nomination, Waititi said that there was "an imminent need, now more than ever that Māori have a voice who solely prioritises their aspirations and their needs and that is unapologetic about doing so. The Māori Party is the only party who can do that."[13] He was endorsed by Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui.[14]

At the 2020 election, Waititi successfully unseated the Labour MP Tāmati Coffey, winning by 836 votes, and became the MP for Waiariki.[15]

The final election results showed that the Māori Party had won 1.2% of the party vote, entitling them to two seats, so Waititi's electorate win meant not only his entry to Parliament, but also that of female co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.[16][17] Of the forty-two new MPs elected to the 53rd Parliament,[18] two are from the Māori Party.[2][19][20]

Under the Māori Party's constitution, its co-leaders must be drawn from its MPs first, with one male and one female co-leader.[21] At a special general meeting of the party on 28 October 2020, Waititi was confirmed as the male co-leader, replacing his father-in-law, John Tamihere.[22]

First term, 2020–2023

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Before being sworn in to the 53rd parliament, Waititi performed a waerea to protest being required to pledge allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II without reference to the Treaty of Waitangi.[23] On 26 November, Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer walked out of Parliament after the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard declined his motion that the Māori Party be allowed to speak for 15 minutes during the opening on Parliament on the grounds that MPs from smaller parties were not scheduled to deliver their maiden speeches until the following week. Waititi described Mallard's decision and the parliamentary system as unfair.[24]

In late December 2020 and early January, Waititi participated in negotiations with 16 prisoners who were involved in unrest at Waikeria Prison stemming from allegations of inhumane and unhygienic conditions at the prison. Several of the prisoners had requested the presence of a Māori leader such as Waititi as a prerequisite to ending the unrest. He stated, "these men belong to whanau... that they deserve the right to be treated humanely, with fresh water, food and clean clothing and they deserve to have someone advocating for them."[25] Following five days of unrest, the prisoners surrendered to the authorities following negotiations involving Waititi.[26][27]

On 9 February, Waititi was ejected from Parliamentary proceedings by Speaker Mallard for refusing to wear a necktie in line with Parliament's business attire dress core. Waititi instead wore a hei tiki necktie, which he described as Māori business attire. Waititi had earlier criticised wearing neckties, describing them as "colonial noose[s]" during his maiden speech last year. When Waititi attempted to ask Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis a supplementary question, Mallard denied him permission to speak since he was not wearing a tie. When Waititi sought a point of order, Mallard ordered him to leave. Waititi was supported by fellow Māori Party MP Ngarewa-Packer, who wore a tie in mockery of the rules.[28][29] The following day, a Standing Orders meeting accepted a Māori Party submission proposing the elimination of neckties from Parliament's business attire. As a result, Mallard announced that it would no longer be compulsory to wear ties in Parliament.[30]

On 12 May, Waititi was ejected from parliamentary proceedings following a heated argument with the opposition National Party leader Judith Collins about the proposed creation of a Māori Health Authority. In the past two weeks, National had alleged the Labour Government was promoting a "separatist agenda" through the Māori Health Authority and other policies seeking to fulfil partnership responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi. Waititi accused Collins of racism and sought to raise a point of order about indigenous rights. When his point of order was denied by the Speaker Mallard, Waititi performed a haka in protest, prompting the Speaker to order him to leave Parliament. Waititi left with Māori Party co-leader Ngarewa-Packer and Green MP Teanau Tuiono, who expressed solidarity with him.[31][32]

In October 2021, Waititi criticised the Government's abandonment of its previous COVID-19 elimination strategy and expressed concerns that the new COVID-19 Protection Framework was insufficient in protecting Māori and boosting the Māori vaccination rate.[33]

In September 2022, Waititi and fellow Māori Party MP Ngarewa-Packer voted against the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Act 2022, which created a once-off public holiday on 26 September to commemorate the death of Elizabeth II. Waititi objected to the holiday on the grounds that no similar event had taken place for any deceased Māori leaders and claimed it was "example of colonialism in practice". Waititi further stated after a week of avoiding commenting on republicanism that New Zealand "must acknowledge the brutal genocidal and ongoing impact of colonialism, of the imperial project that was overseen by the House of Windsor and its forebears". Waititi's remarks were criticised as insensitive and disrespectful by National Party MPs Michael Woodhouse and Judith Collins.[34][35]

In May 2023, Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer were ordered to leave Parliament by Speaker Adrian Rurawhe after they staged a haka (dance) to welcome former Labour MP Meka Whaitiri. The Māori Party caucus had not sought permission from the Speaker or other parties to hold the haka.[36][37]

In mid July 2023, Waititi joked about poisoning ACT Party leader David Seymour during Te Pati Māori's annual conference. While referring to the karaka seedpod necklace around his neck, Waititi said: "These are karaka berries and they've still got the poison in them. So next time I go into Parliament this is what I'm going to do. When David Seymour's not looking, I'm going to go like this into his water... There you are, re-indigenise yourself with some native seeds." Waititi's remarks were condemned by Seymour, who demanded an apology.[38][39]

On 29 August 2023, Waititi was suspended from Parliament for 24 hours after referring to suppressed court proceedings while asking a question during parliamentary proceedings. Though Waititi asked the question under parliamentary privilege, his reference to the court proceedings breached two parliamentary Standing Orders. In addition, Speaker Rurawhe referred a "general question" of breaching court suppressions to Parliament's Privileges Committee.[40][41] As punishment, Waititi was barred from voting, sitting on a committee or entering the debating chamber for 24 hours. On 28 August 2024, Parliament's Privileges Committee chairperson Judith Collins upheld Speaker Rurawhe's disciplinary action against Waititi for breaching the court suppression order, stating "that free speech came with a responsibility not to frustrate the court's jurisdiction."[42]

During an interview with TVNZ journalist Jack Tame 10 September 2023, Waititi advocated a wealth tax and removing GST from food, defended Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), and advocated a policy of neutrality.[43] Waititi also denied that his party's sports policy' comments about "Māori genetic makeup being stronger than others" were racist. These comments were subsequently deleted from Te Pāti Māori's website. When challenged by Tame, he said that Te Pāti Māori was "trying to empower people that are climbing out from the bottom of the bonnet of colonial violence for the last 193 years" by encouraging pride in their heritage.[43][44]

Second term, 2023–present

[edit]

In the 2023 general election, Waititi again contested the Waiariki electorate. He received 21,500 votes out of 28,958 for an outright majority.[45][46] Waititi performed a haka in the chamber prior to swearing his oath of allegiance to King Charles III.[47]

In mid-December 2023, Waititi retained his position as Te Pāti Māori co-leader and joined Parliament's finance & expenditure select committee. He also became the party's finance, economic development, trade & enterprise, revenue, procurement, defence, foreign affairs, intelligence, Māori performance arts, and arts, culture & heritage spokesperson.[48]

In mid-March 2023, Waititi introduced a member's bill to amend the Goods and Services Tax Act fo remove the Goods and Services Tax from all food products and non-alcohol products.[49] The bill was defeated at its first reading on 22 March 2024, with only Te Pāti Māori supporting it.[50]

Views and positions

[edit]

Abortion

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Waititi voted in favour of the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act 2022, which established safe zones around abortion providers.[51]

Conversion therapy

[edit]

Waititi has supported the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022, which banned conversion therapy. During the Bill's first reading in August 2022, he claimed that conversion therapy was based on European colonial ideas about gender and sexuality that were alien to Māori people.[52]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

[edit]

In March 2022, Waititi supported the Russia Sanctions Act 2022, which created an autonomous sanctions regime in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. While condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he also questioned New Zealand's failure to condemn the United States' invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.[53]

Self-governance

[edit]

In February 2024, Waititi has advocated for Māori self-governance, stating that Māori have a right to govern themselves. He has also called for the establishment of a Māori Parliament.[54]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Waiariki electorate". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Election 2020: The 40 diverse new MPs entering Parliament". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020 – via Newstalk ZB.
  3. ^ "'We don't need divisive policies': Rawiri Waititi speaks from Wellington arm of protests". Newshub. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Rawiri Waititi will swear oath on Ringatū faith". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Husband, Dale (26 September 2020). "Rawiri Waititi: Unapologetically Māori". E-Tangata. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. ^ Rob Ruha sings Happy Birthday to Rawiri Waititi | #WATCHNOW Rob Ruha sings Happy Birthday to Māori Party candidate Rariwi Waititi during the election night party in Te Kaha. | By Te Ao Māori NewsFacebook. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
  7. ^ Husband, Dale (26 September 2020). "Rawiri Waititi: Unapologetically Māori". E-Tangata. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Rawiri Waititi ~ Waiariki". Māori Party. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b Shanks, Katee (12 September 2014). "Election Profile: Rawiri Waititi". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Count Results – Waiariki". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  11. ^ Forbes, Mihingarangi (21 August 2016). "Māori King rejects Labour in unscripted speech closing". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Former Labour candidate for Te Waiariki Rawiri Waititi on Paakiwaha". Waatea News. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Waititi To Stand For Māori Party In Waiariki". Scoop (Press release). Māori Party. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui to get political". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  16. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Special votes: National loses two MPs, one each to Labour, Māori Party". Radio New Zealand. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  18. ^ Lynch, Jenna (6 November 2020). "NZ Election 2020: Judith Collins will 'definitely not' stand down as leader despite National's crushing defeat". Newshub. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  19. ^ Lynch, Jenna (6 November 2020). "NZ Election 2020: Judith Collins will 'definitely not' stand down as leader despite National's crushing defeat". Newshub. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  20. ^ Moir, Jo (6 November 2020). "Special votes: National loses two MPs, one each to Labour, Māori Party". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Māori Party Constitution" (PDF). 12 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi replaces John Tamihere as co-leader". Radio New Zealand. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  23. ^ Wade, Amerlia (25 November 2020). "From a top hat to an oath race: The 53rd Parliament is sworn in". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  24. ^ Patterson, Jane (26 November 2020). "Māori Party MPs walk out of Parliament in protest". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Waikeria Prison unrest: Protesters leave rooftop to meet Waititi". Radio New Zealand. 31 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Waikeria Prison surrender: Family members claim complaints about 'disgusting' conditions made, despite Corrections saying otherwise". Stuff. 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Waikeria Prison rioters surrender after six-day stand-off; jail conditions not reason for unrest, says Kelvin Davis". The New Zealand Herald. 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  28. ^ Cooke, Henry (9 February 2021). "Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi kicked out of House for refusal to wear a tie". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  29. ^ Walls, Jason (9 February 2021). "Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi enters Parliament without tie, is kicked out by Mallard". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Ties now optional in Parliament after Rawiri Waititi booted out for not wearing one". The New Zealand Herald. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  31. ^ Manch, Thomas; Cooke, Henry (12 May 2021). "Māori Party's Rāwiri Waititi ejected from House for haka protest against National's 'racist propaganda'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  32. ^ McClure, Tess (13 May 2021). "Māori party co-leader ejected from parliament after performing haka in racism row". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Covid-19 Delta outbreak: Government can't afford to rule out level 4 return – modeller Shaun Hendy". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  34. ^ McConnell, Glenn (21 September 2022). "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day is official – but not without controversy". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  35. ^ Neilson, Michael (21 September 2022). "Queen Elizabeth death: Parliament to rush through bill to create public holiday". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  36. ^ Palmer, Russell (9 May 2023). "Whaitiri decries 'censure' after Te Pāti Māori leaders ejected from Parliament". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Speaker blunts celebration of Meka defection". Waatea News.com. Waatea News. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  38. ^ Trevett, Claire (13 July 2023). "Act leader David Seymour says Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi's joke a step too far". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  39. ^ Manch, Thomas (14 July 2023). "ACT Party leader David Seymour wants apology over Māori Party joke". Stuff. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  40. ^ Palmer, Russell (29 August 2023). "Rawiri Waititi suspended from Parliament over comments". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  41. ^ "Rawiri Waititi suspended from Parliament for 24hrs over comments". 1 News. TVNZ. 29 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  42. ^ McCulloch, Craig (29 August 2024). "Te Pāti Māori 'more aware and respectful' of Parliament's relationship with courts". RNZ. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Q + A with Jack Tame – Rawiri Waiti: Maori health, Te Tiriti, and Parliament suspension". TVNZ. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  44. ^ Lynch, Chris (10 September 2023). "Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi defends deleted racist comments". Chris Lynch Media. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  45. ^ McConnell, Glenn (16 October 2023). "Labour stunned as Te Pāti Māori pulls off major coup. How did they win so many seats?". Stuff. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  47. ^ "Maori MP performs haka before swearing oath to King". BBC News.
  48. ^ "Te Pāti Māori Portfolios List" (PDF). Waatea News. 14 December 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  49. ^ Mathias, Shanti (20 March 2024). "Rawiri Waititi's member's bill to remove GST from food, explained". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  50. ^ Perese, Daniel (22 March 2024). "Why was Rawiri Waititi's bill removing GST from Kai given the chop?". Te Ao Māori News. Whakaata Māori. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  51. ^ "Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill — Third Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 16 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  52. ^ "Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill — First Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  53. ^ "Russia Sanctions Bill — First Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 9 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  54. ^ Pearse, Adam; Wilson, Simon (4 February 2024). "Rawiri Waititi calls for Maori Parliament amid Ratana's teasing of Winston Peters and Shane Jones". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
[edit]
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Waiariki
2020–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Co-leader of the Māori Party
2020–present
Served alongside: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer 		Incumbent
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