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Shane Raymond Reti QSM MP (born 5 June 1963) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Minister of Universities and Minister of Statistics. He was first elected at the 2014 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Whangārei electorate. He is a member of the New Zealand National Party and served as its deputy leader from 10 November 2020 to 30 November 2021 including a period of five days as interim leader following the ousting of Judith Collins. He previously held the role of Minister of Health from 2023 to 2025.[1]

Key Information

Early life and family

[edit]

Born in Hamilton in 1963,[2] Reti is of Māori descent, and has tribal affiliations to Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Kapotai and Ngāti Maniapoto.[3][4][5] He was educated at Hamilton Boys' High School and Minidoka County High School in Rupert, Idaho,[6] United States. He then studied at the University of Waikato from 1981 to 1982 and the University of Auckland between 1982 and 1987 and in 1989, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Human Biology in 1985, MB ChB in 1987 and a Diploma in Obstetrics in 1989. He was also awarded a Diploma in Dermatological Science by the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1991.[2]

Reti served in the Territorial Force from 1983 to 1987.[2] He played badminton for Waikato between 1978 and 1982.[2]

Professional career

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Reti worked as a general practitioner for 17 years.[7][8] For seven years and three consecutive terms he served as a member of the Northland District Health Board.[8] In the 2006 New Year Honours he was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public services.[9]

In 2007 Reti was awarded a NZ Harkness Fellowship to Harvard Medical School and moved to Massachusetts to work at Harvard University.[8][10] Reti remained in Boston for six years and claims to have resisted offers by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School to extend his stay.[8]

Reti has continued to be a practising doctor during his time in parliament. In 2019 Reti was one of a team who administered the meningococcal vaccine at Hikurangi primary school after the local community raised money to buy the vaccine.[11] In 2021 Reti travelled Northland administering COVID-19 vaccinations.[12] In 2021 industry publication New Zealand Doctor indicated that having a doctor high up is important to the profession, announcing "Shane Reti is the first GP, and first medical practitioner, to become leader of the National Party".[13]

Political career

[edit]
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st Whangārei 60 National
2017–2020 52nd Whangārei 45 National
2020–2023 53rd List 5 National
2023–present 54th Whangārei 4 National

Fifth National Government, 2014–2017

[edit]

Early in 2014, Reti won the National Party nomination in the safe Whangārei electorate against sitting list MP Paul Foster-Bell for the 2014 election.[10] At the 2014 election, he had a large margin over Labour's Kelly Ellis.[10]

During the Northland by-election, Reti was accused of bullying Alex Wright of the Pipiwai Titoki Advocacy group, a group campaigning to seal the "dusty and dangerous foresty roads" in Northland. Wright claimed that Reti rang her and told her to keep quiet until after the by-election or get nothing. Reti responded that he was attempting to help the group.[14]

Sixth Labour Government, 2017–2023

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During the 2017 election, Reti was re-elected in Whangārei, defeating Labour candidate Tony John Savage by a margin of 10,967 votes.[15]

Following the formation of the Labour-led coalition government, Reti became National's Associate Spokesperson for Health and Deputy Chaiperson of the Health Select Committee. He was later appointed as the party's spokesperson for data and cybersecurity and for disability issues.[16] In January 2019, Reti was designated as National's spokesperson for tertiary education, skills, and employment.[17][18] Between 25 March and 26 May 2020, Reti was a member of the Epidemic Response Committee, a select committee that considered the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] On 2 July, Reti was promoted to number 13 on the National Party's list ranking within Todd Muller's shadow cabinet and also given the associate drug reform portfolio.[20][21] On 15 July 2020, Judith Collins, the new Leader of the Opposition, announced that Reti was to be promoted to Spokesperson for Health for National.[22][23][24]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election held on 17 October, preliminary results had Reti ahead of Labour candidate Emily Henderson in the Whangārei electorate by 162 votes.[25] Following the publication of official results on 6 November, he lost the seat to Henderson by 431 votes.[26] He returned to Parliament on the National Party list.[27]

Reti lays a wreath on behalf of the Opposition on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Wellington, during the 2021 Armistice Day commemoration

On 10 November, Reti was unanimously elected as the deputy leader of the National Party during a party caucus meeting.[28][29]

In mid November 2021, Reti briefly served as interim leader of the National Party after Judith Collins lost a vote of no confidence.[30][31] On 30 November, he was succeeded by Christopher Luxon, who became the party's new leader and the new Leader of the Opposition.[32]

On 17 January 2022, Reti successfully petitioned SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite technology to Tonga after the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai tsunami.[33] Tonga lost internet connectivity to the world after the underwater cables were ruptured during the eruption and resulting tsunami. Reti did not have a pre-existing relationship with Musk but reasoned that "I guess Elon Musk can only say no and if you don't ask you don't know".[33] In response Musk's SpaceX set up a free high-speed internet service for the affected remote islands, to remain until they could be reconnected by cable. In acknowledging the 50 VSAT terminals provided free of charge the Tongan Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, said "It is rather paradoxical for a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami to bring to our shores the latest in satellite and communications technology".[34]

In March 2022, the New Zealand Herald removed an opinion piece Reti had written. In it, he claimed that self-harm had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; other journalists using the same data found the opposite, and a data journalist for the Herald called the graphs in the article "poor and misleading".[35]

In mid-March 2022, Reti was moved up from fifth to fourth place during a reshuffle of Luxon's shadow cabinet.[36]

In mid-July 2023, 1News reported that Reti accompanied Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics as an observer on weekend shifts for nearly three months. According to Reti, New Zealand health workers were overworked and emergency departments were under-staffed and over-resourced. Reti defended his actions, stating that he complied with St John's and Wellington Free Ambulance's policies and procedures.[37] In response to concerns about privacy and patient consent, St John's and Wellington Free Ambulance developed a new agreement on managing ambulance observers.[38]

Sixth National Government, 2023–present

[edit]

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Reti won the Whangārei electorate by a margin of 11,424 votes and defeated Labour candidate Angie Warren-Clark.[39]

Minister of Health, 2023–2025

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Following the formation of the National-led coalition government in late November 2023, Reti was appointed as Minister of Health and Minister for Pacific Peoples.[40] On 28 November Reti, in his capacity as Health Minister, defended the Government's plans to scrap the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, which reduced the number of retailers allowed to sell tobacco to 600 and banned anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes. Reti argued that vaping would be the primary way to reduce smoking under the new Government. He also defended the Government's plans to dissolve Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), stating that decision-making should be devolved at the hapū (sub-tribe level) rather than centralised in Wellington.[41] Reti and the Government drew criticism from Tongan community leader Pakilau Manase Lua, the New Zealand Council of Medical Colleges chair Dr Samantha Murton, and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall over their plans to repeal Smokefree legislation, scrap the Māori Health Authority, and review the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand law.[42][43]

On 15 December, Waatea News reported that Reti and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey had several initial meetings with Te Aka Whai Ora's chief executive Riana Manuel. While Reti confirmed that the Government would proceed with its plans to dissolve the organisation, he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continue working with iwi-Māori partnership boards on the health needs of the Māori community including mental health.[44] On 18 December, Radio New Zealand reported that Reti was tasked with reviewing the University of Auckland's Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS), an affirmative action programme seeking to boost the number of Māori and Pasifika medical graduates. Reti had benefitted from the programme while studying to be a doctor at University of Auckland.[45]

On 19 December, Reti appointed Ken Whelan as a Crown observer to Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), citing ongoing challenges that the public health service was facing following the previous Labour Government's 2022 health reforms.[46] On 21 December Reti announced that the Government would invest in a NZ$50 million package over the two next years to help Māori health providers boost low immunisation rates within the Māori community.[47]

In late June 2024, Reti announcing that the Government would be investing NZ$604 million over the next four years in boosting Pharmac funding for 54 new medicines including 26 cancer treatments. He reiterated that this funding would allow the Government to fulfill its 2023 election promise of funding 13 cancer drugs.[48] The Government had been unable to include the 13 new cancer drugs as part of the 2024 New Zealand budget due to a NZ$1.77 billion funding "cliff" in Pharmac's budget left by the previous Labour Government.[49]

On 10 September 2024, Reti instructed Hawke's Bay health services to stop prioritising young Māori and Pasifika youths for free doctor and nurse visits on the basis of their ethnicity.[50] Later that week, the Cabinet Office issued a new directive that public services should be delivered based on "need" rather than "race," fulfilling a coalition agreement secured by ACT and NZ First.[51]

On 8 October 2024, Reti announced that the Government would allocated an extra NZ$6 million to improve wait times and patient care and services at Palmerston North Hospital.[52]

2025 cabinet reshuffle

[edit]

On 19 January 2025, Christopher Luxon announced during a cabinet reshuffle that Reti would be relinquishing the Health portfolio, which would be given to Simeon Brown instead. He was also appointed as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister of Statistics, and given the new Universities portfolio. Reti was also demoted from fourth to ninth place in the Cabinet ranking.[53][54]

Minister of Statistics

[edit]

On 18 June 2025 Reti, as Statistics Minister, announced that the Government would replace the five-yearly census in 2030 with a combination of administrative data from other government agencies and smaller annual surveys that a sample of the population will complete. He confirmed that there would be no census in 2028, with the 2023 census being the final one. Reti said that the traditional census was "no longer financially viable", stating "despite the unsustainable and escalating costs, successive censuses have been beset with issues or failed to meet expectations."[55] While acting Statistics New Zealand chief and Government Statistician Mary Craig welcomed the scrapping of the traditional census, University of Waikato Institute for Population Research senior research fellow Dr Jesse Whitehead and New Zealand Institute of Economic Research economist Bill Kaye expressed concern that discontinuing the five-year census would impact data equity and have an adverse impact on "marginalised" communities including Māori, Pasifika, LGBTQ, the disabled and ethnic communities.[56][57] By contrast,

Political positions

[edit]

New Dunedin Hospital

[edit]

In 2024 Reti suggested the possibility of cancelling the construction of a new inpatient building in Dunedin, back tracking on an election promise made a year earlier. [58] This announcement triggered a protest of 35,000 people on the streets of Dunedin, one of the largest protests in New Zealand history. [59] Shortly after Reti was removed as Minister of Health, the government recommitted to the construction of a new inpatient building. [60]

Medical marijuana

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Reti authored a private members bill in 2018 that would have extended access to medical, but not recreational, marijuana.[61]

Euthanasia

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Reti voted against the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[62]

Abortion

[edit]

Reti voted against the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.[63]

When asked for his comments on the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, and whether similar changes could take place in New Zealand, Reti stated "That would always be a decision for caucus, and so I'm not going to offer a position here now, but we are mindful in watching what happens with Roe vs Wade".[64]

Obesity

[edit]

In mid-November 2020, Reti supported National Party leader Judith Collins' earlier remarks about obesity being a matter of personal responsibility. Reti said that National had a "good obesity framework" and that people could be trusted to make the right choice with the "right information." While acknowledging that socio-economic and genetics were factors in obesity, he added there were other reasons including medical factors for putting on weight.[65]

Cancer treatment access

[edit]

Reti authored a private members bill [66] to allow unfunded cancer medication to be administered in public hospitals.[67] Under the bill patients would continue to pay the cost of unfunded medicines, but not for the administration of them. The bill was drawn from the ballot in 2021.

Fluoridation

[edit]

Reti is a supporter of fluoridation, having self-sponsored work to implement it in Northland [68] but did not support removing fluoridation decisions from the local DHB.[69]

Conversion therapy ban

[edit]

Reti was one of only eight MPs to vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022. The then-leader of the National Party Judith Collins instructed all National MPs to vote against the bill at its first reading, and as party deputy leader Reti defended the party's position and sought to add an exemption to the bill for parents regarding bill. National's leadership changed to Christopher Luxon who allowed his MPs to vote according to their conscience; Reti voted against the bill at its second reading, and at its third and final reading.[70][71][72][73] Reti said he abhors conversion therapy but "What is not clear in the bill is the protection of reasonable parents having reasonable conversations with their children."[74]

Personal life

[edit]

Reti has three adult children: two daughters and one son.[75] Reti was raised a Mormon but no longer attends church.[76]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Shane Reti

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Shane Reti (born 1963) is a New Zealand politician and former general practitioner of Māori descent who has represented the Whangārei electorate as a National Party Member of Parliament since winning it back in the 2023 general election, having previously held the seat from 2014 to 2020 before losing it narrowly. With a professional background in family medicine and dermatology practiced for 16 years in Whangārei, as well as three terms on the Northland District Health Board, Reti brought clinical expertise to his political roles, including serving as Minister of Health from November 2023 until his demotion in January 2025 amid difficulties in addressing inherited fiscal deficits and governance issues at Health New Zealand. Currently, he holds ministerial responsibilities for Science, Innovation and Technology—overseeing investments in AI research and bioeconomy initiatives—and Pacific Peoples, among others, reflecting a shift toward policy areas leveraging his experience in health systems and regional development. Reti's tenure as Health Minister was marked by efforts to restructure the sector, including sacking the Health NZ board and appointing a commissioner to tackle bureaucratic layers and financial overruns exceeding $1 billion, though these moves drew criticism for insufficient progress on wait times and service delivery. His subsequent focus on science and innovation has emphasized export-led growth through targeted funding, such as $42 million for bio-based industries, positioning him as a proponent of evidence-based policy in emerging technologies.

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

Shane Reti was born into a state house in Hamilton as the eldest of five children in a working-class Māori family. His siblings are Mark, Leanne, Michelle, and Kylie. His parents, Ray and Robyn Reti, both left school after fourth or fifth form and held various manual and clerical jobs; Ray worked as a farmer in Kawhia, at a freezing works, as a carpenter, and in commercial cleaning, while Robyn served as a clerk at State Advances. Reti's family heritage includes Ngāti Wai affiliations through his father's side, with descent from Hemi and Tete Paoro of Waikare in the Bay of Islands, and Ngāti Maniapoto ties via his paternal grandmother Irina Whawhakia Paki, a descendant of Puoaka Paki; his mother's roots trace to early 19th-century settlers in Horeke, Hokianga, with broader Tainui connections. Despite limited personal educational attainment, his parents instilled values of hard work and further education as pathways to success, supporting the children's schooling through additional jobs and emphasizing perseverance amid economic constraints. Reti attended Hamilton Boys’ High School, where he excelled academically, such as winning a fifth-form English prize, and participated in activities like badminton as a Waikato junior representative.

Academic and initial training

Reti completed a Bachelor of Human Biology at the University of Auckland prior to pursuing medical studies. He spent one year at the University of Waikato before gaining admission to the University of Auckland's medical school, where he trained and earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). His entry into the program occurred through the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme, an affirmative action pathway for Māori and Pacific students established in 1972, during the 1980s. Following his medical degree, Reti obtained a Diploma in Obstetrics from the University of Auckland. He subsequently completed a Diploma in Dermatological Science from Cardiff University in Wales in 1991, supporting his early focus on dermatology alongside general practice. Reti also earned a Diploma in Professional Ethics and a Master of Medical Science from the University of Auckland, enhancing his foundational qualifications in medical ethics and advanced clinical sciences. In 2007, Reti received the New Zealand Harkness Fellowship, enabling him to conduct research at Harvard Medical School, where he advanced to the role of Assistant Professor. This international academic placement built on his initial training by providing exposure to advanced health policy and research methodologies.

Medical career

Clinical practice as a general practitioner

Reti commenced his clinical practice as a general practitioner in Whangārei, Northland, specializing in family medicine and dermatology. He established a medical clinic in the area, delivering primary healthcare services to local patients over a 16-year period prior to entering politics. His practice emphasized routine general consultations, dermatological assessments, and family-oriented care in a regional setting characterized by rural and underserved populations. Reti continued aspects of his frontline experience into his parliamentary roles, maintaining familiarity with primary care challenges such as access and funding constraints in Northland.

Academic and leadership roles in healthcare

Reti earned a Master of Medical Science from the University of Auckland prior to advancing his career in clinical informatics and medical education. In 2007, Reti received the New Zealand Harkness Fellowship, enabling him to join Harvard Medical School, where he was promoted to Assistant Professor. In this role, he oversaw operations for a division at Harvard and contributed to the implementation of health information technology systems. Concurrently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Division of Clinical Informatics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, emphasizing the integration of digital tools into patient care and clinical workflows. Returning to New Zealand, Reti assumed governance responsibilities in regional healthcare, serving three terms as a director on the Northland District Health Board from the early 2000s until around 2011. His board tenure focused on addressing service delivery challenges in a rural, underserved area, culminating in recognition through the Queen's Service Medal for public services awarded in the 2006 New Year Honours.

Entry into politics

Motivation and pre-parliamentary involvement

Prior to entering Parliament, Reti served three terms on the Northland District Health Board, spanning approximately seven years, where he engaged in regional health governance and policy advocacy. During this period, he advocated for measures such as water fluoridation to address Northland's poor dental health outcomes and critiqued the board's handling of public health crises, including a meningitis outbreak. This role honed his skills in financial oversight and strategic decision-making, as board members identified his aptitude for budgets, leading him to qualify as a chartered accountant. Reti's experience on the DHB board directly informed his transition to politics, providing practical preparation for parliamentary scrutiny and policy implementation, which he described as setting him up for the demands of political life. His motivation to contest the 2014 election as the National Party candidate for Whangārei stemmed from a desire to apply his medical and governance expertise at a national level, particularly in health policy, following 16 years as a general practitioner in family medicine and dermatology in the region. This pre-parliamentary public service, recognized with a Queen's Service Medal for contributions to health in the 2006 New Year Honours, positioned him to address systemic issues he encountered locally, such as resource allocation and service delivery challenges in underserved areas.

2014 election and initial parliamentary roles

In March 2014, following the resignation of long-serving National MP Phil Heatley, Shane Reti was selected as the National Party's candidate for the Whangārei electorate. Reti, a local general practitioner with prior service on the Northland District Health Board, defeated other contenders including Paul Foster-Bell and Adam Isa to secure the nomination. Reti won the Whangārei seat in the 20 September 2014 general election, receiving 20,111 votes and defeating Labour candidate David Wilson by a margin of nearly 10,000 votes. This victory marked him as the first Māori to hold the electorate, entering Parliament as part of the re-elected Fifth National Government led by Prime Minister John Key. As a new backbench MP in the governing , Reti's initial parliamentary roles focused on constituency representation and leveraging his healthcare expertise in legislative scrutiny, though he held no senior spokesperson positions at the outset. He delivered his on 30 October 2014, emphasizing themes of personal responsibility and informed by his professional background.

Parliamentary opposition years

Fifth National Government period (2014–2017)

Reti entered Parliament following his victory in the Whangārei electorate at the 20 September 2014 general election, where he received 20,111 votes as the National Party candidate, more than triple the 6,987 votes garnered by Labour's opponent, securing a majority of 13,124. As a first-term MP aligned with the governing National Party under Prime Minister John Key, Reti operated primarily as a backbencher, emphasizing local constituency matters in Northland such as economic growth, employment opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and expansion of trade training and apprenticeships to address regional skill shortages. In his parliamentary roles, Reti contributed to select committee work, including membership on the Health Select Committee, where his prior experience as a general practitioner and academic informed examinations of health policy and legislation. He also engaged in debates on bills affecting public services, such as supporting the Courts Matters Bill in August 2017 to enhance court efficiency through administrative reforms. Reti's tenure reflected a low-profile approach, with limited high-level party assignments amid the government's focus on economic recovery and social policy implementation post the Global Financial Crisis. By mid-2017, following Key's resignation and Bill English's ascension to prime minister in December 2016, Reti continued advocating for Northland-specific initiatives, though National's overall support waned ahead of the September 2017 election, in which Reti narrowly lost the Whangārei seat to Labour's Kelvin Davis by 1,389 votes but retained his position via the party list at rank 45.

Sixth Labour Government period (2017–2023)

In the early years of the Sixth Labour Government, Reti continued as a list MP for the National Party, ranked 44th on the party list under leader Bill English, and took on junior opposition spokesperson roles including for disability issues and data and cybersecurity. In January 2019, under leader Simon Bridges, he was designated as associate health spokesperson, drawing on his medical background to contribute to scrutiny of government policies. This associate role involved examining aspects of the health system's performance, such as district health board operations, amid Labour's initial reforms. On 15 July 2020, newly elected National leader Judith Collins promoted Reti to the senior health spokesperson position, replacing Michael Woodhouse, in recognition of his expertise as a former general practitioner and Northland District Health Board member. In this capacity, Reti led opposition critiques of Labour's COVID-19 response, emphasizing the need for balanced public health measures without undue economic disruption, and questioned the centralization of decision-making in the Ministry of Health. He also highlighted emerging pressures on hospital capacity and elective surgery backlogs, attributing delays to underfunding and bureaucratic inefficiencies rather than solely pandemic effects. Reti's prominence grew further on 10 November 2020, when he was unanimously elected deputy leader of the National Party caucus, unopposed, positioning him as a key figure in party strategy during the pandemic and lead-up to the 2020 general election. Following National's election loss and Collins' resignation on 25 November 2021, Reti served as interim party leader for five days until Christopher Luxon's selection on 30 November 2021, during which he maintained focus on health system accountability. Through 2021–2023, Reti intensified opposition oversight of Labour's health initiatives, including the 2022 establishment of the centralized Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora), which he argued exacerbated wait times and regional disparities. In August 2023, he criticized the government for delaying publication of surgical waitlist data, claiming it obscured a crisis with over 600,000 New Zealanders awaiting procedures as of mid-2023. He repeatedly pointed to workforce shortages, citing a net loss of over 1,000 nurses in 2022–2023, though Health Minister Ayesha Verrall countered in April 2023 that Reti's figures overstated the exodus by conflating resignations with retirements and international recruitment gaps. Reti's approach emphasized empirical data from hospital reports and surveys, such as a July 2023 Health Coalition Aotearoa/Healthier Homes Aotearoa poll indicating public dissatisfaction with access to care, to advocate for decentralized models over Labour's top-down restructuring.

Ministerial roles in the Sixth National Government

Health Minister tenure (2023–January 2025)

Reti was appointed Minister of Health on 27 November 2023, following the National-led coalition's victory in the October 2023 general election. His tenure focused on addressing what he described as a health system in crisis, inherited from the previous Labour government's centralization reforms, which created excessive bureaucracy and financial strain at Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora). Priorities included decentralizing decision-making to empower local providers and iwi-Māori partnership boards, reinstating district-level planning, and achieving specific targets such as reducing emergency department waits to under six hours for 95% of patients and delivering cancer treatments within four weeks for 90% of cases. In early 2024, Reti oversaw the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora), integrating its functions into and the Ministry of Health to eliminate parallel structures and promote a unified system, a move criticized by some as undermining Māori-specific initiatives but defended as necessary for efficiency and equity through mainstream services. The June 2024 Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027 emphasized shifting resources to primary and community care, with expectations for new models co-designed locally, while de-emphasizing prior focuses on equity quotas and principles in favor of measurable outcomes like improved access and affordability. By July 2024, amid a projected $1.4 billion deficit at —attributed to inherited overspends and poor oversight—Reti replaced the board with commissioner Professor Lester Levy for 12 months to stabilize finances and refocus on frontline delivery. The board had contested the sudden financial revelations, claiming adequate reporting, but Reti maintained the intervention was essential due to a rapid deterioration uncovered in days. Budget 2024 under Reti's oversight allocated record health funding, including $3.44 billion over four years for hospital and specialist services, $2.12 billion for primary and community care, and $1.77 billion to Pharmac to address medicine shortfalls, surpassing previous governments' absolute spending levels despite fiscal constraints. The 2023–2024 New Zealand Health Survey indicated modest progress in areas like obesity rates and smoking prevalence but persistent challenges in mental health access and inequities. Reti also initiated a review of equity-based medical school admissions programs, including the one from which he himself graduated in the 1980s, amid debates over whether such schemes constituted racial discrimination. However, delivery on pre-election promises faltered in some areas, such as fully funding 13 additional cancer drugs via Pharmac; Reti acknowledged partial shortfalls, with only some approvals met by mid-2024 due to prioritization processes. Critics, including medical journals, argued the system remained under-resourced relative to demand, with wait times and elective surgeries still exceeding targets, though Reti countered that inherited structural flaws necessitated time for stabilization.

Concurrent portfolios including Pacific Peoples and Statistics

Reti served as Minister for Pacific Peoples from 27 November 2023, concurrently with his Health portfolio until the January 2025 reshuffle. In this role, he focused on strengthening ties with Pacific communities in New Zealand and the region, including attending the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji, to reaffirm New Zealand's commitment to economic cooperation. In October 2025, he represented New Zealand at the Conference of the Pacific Community in Tonga, highlighting opportunities for collaboration in science and technology to enhance Pacific livelihoods. Domestically, Reti oversaw a capability review of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples initiated in early 2024, which examined operational efficiency amid broader government efforts to streamline agencies. By September 2025, he addressed potential structural changes, including merging the ministry with smaller entities to reduce duplication while preserving support for Pacific priorities such as housing, education, and language revitalization. He defended a $36 million budget reduction for the ministry in the 2025 fiscal year, framing it as reallocating resources for sustainable growth rather than contraction. Reti assumed the Statistics portfolio on 24 January 2025 as part of the cabinet reshuffle, holding it alongside Pacific Peoples and newly acquired responsibilities in science and universities. In this capacity, he received briefings on modernizing statistical systems, including policy development and software updates to support evidence-based decision-making across government. A key initiative involved directing Stats NZ toward a digital-first approach, phasing out the traditional paper-based census in favor of enhanced online and administrative data integration to improve accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness in national data collection. This reform aimed to align statistical practices with technological advancements while maintaining public trust in data integrity.

Cabinet reshuffle and demotion (January 2025)

On 19 January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a significant cabinet reshuffle, in which Shane Reti was removed from the Health portfolio and demoted from fourth to ninth in the National Party's cabinet rankings. Reti was replaced as Health Minister by Simeon Brown, a junior coalition partner from the ACT Party, amid perceptions of underperformance in delivering health sector reforms during Reti's 18-month tenure. Luxon described the changes as prioritizing "high performers" and injecting fresh energy into key portfolios, while emphasizing that he retained full confidence in Reti despite the shift. Reti retained responsibility for Pacific Peoples but assumed the Science, Innovation, and Technology portfolio, succeeding Judith Collins, as well as regional development roles. In response to media characterizations of the move as a demotion, Reti rejected the framing, stating he maintained the Prime Minister's confidence and was committed to advancing innovation-driven policies in his new assignments. The reshuffle also involved the exit of Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee from cabinet and promotions for figures like James Meager, reflecting Luxon's strategy to address coalition dynamics and public expectations for faster progress on election promises. Critics within circles questioned whether the change would materially improve outcomes, given longstanding underfunding and structural issues predating Reti's appointment, though Luxon positioned Brown's appointment as a signal of firmer execution on measures. Reti's drew public backlash, with some commentators noting his prior experience as National's spokesperson under Luxon but highlighting delays in initiatives like waitlist reductions and as contributing factors.

Post-reshuffle ministerial responsibilities (2025–present)

Science, Innovation, and Technology portfolio

Upon assuming the Science, Innovation, and Technology portfolio on 24 January 2025 as part of a , Shane Reti prioritized reforms to streamline New Zealand's funding system, emphasizing and reduced bureaucracy over previous fragmented structures. His approach involved consolidating seven Crown Research Institutes into three specialized public research organizations focused on bio-economy, and , and foundational , with progress announced on 12 March 2025. In Budget , Reti oversaw the reprioritization of existing funds toward growth-oriented initiatives, including support for safe gene editing applications and the establishment of new bio-economy entities, announced on 22 May 2025. This included up to $70 million over four years for the for Advanced Technology, aimed at advancing deep-tech commercialization, with a second major detailed on 21 May 2025. On 13 May 2025, he announced the formation of a new Institute to drive biological innovation for economic productivity. Additionally, on 3 September 2025, Reti approved $183 million through the Endeavour Fund for 19 contestable programs targeting high-impact areas like advanced manufacturing and environmental technologies. Reti advanced structural changes by announcing on 14 October 2025 a transition to a single national research funding agency, merging entities like the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's science division to eliminate overlaps and enhance ministerial oversight, with implementation targeted for efficiency gains. Complementing this, he launched the 's Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council on 18 September 2025 to advise on long-term priorities, and endorsed New Zealand's AI strategy on 7 August 2025, including investments to build domestic AI capabilities and promote responsible adoption across sectors. On 25 July 2025, alongside , Reti unveiled further details on the Institute for Advanced Technology as a cornerstone of system reforms. Critics, including research sector commentators, have raised concerns that the funding overhaul and emphasis on applied, growth-focused could undermine curiosity-driven discovery research, potentially exacerbating a drain from universities amid reprioritized budgets. Reti has defended the changes as necessary to align public investment with national priorities, stating on multiple occasions that simplification would "drive " without specifying protections for .

Universities and tertiary education reforms

Following his appointment as Minister for Universities on 25 February 2025, Shane Reti has prioritized reforms to align New Zealand's tertiary sector with economic needs, emphasizing skills development, research impact, and institutional accountability. These efforts build on Budget 2025 allocations, which included $213 million to fund a 3 per cent increase in tuition and training subsidies across priority subjects at all tertiary levels, aiming to boost enrollment in high-demand fields. On 10 April 2025, Reti introduced legislative measures via the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) requiring each to publish a statement outlining its approach to protecting freedom of expression for staff and students, addressing perceived inconsistencies in institutional practices and reinforcing universities' role as societal critics. Subsequent reforms, announced on 2 September 2025, encompass a comprehensive package to modernize the sector:
  • Development of a new Tertiary Education Strategy (TES), co-led with Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds, to set long-term priorities including career-focused qualifications, economic innovation through research, equitable access, industry integration, and international connectivity; the strategy is slated for release in 2025.
  • Establishment of a University Strategy Group, chaired by Reti and comprising university leaders, industry experts, and officials, operating for 18 months from late 2025 to coordinate TES implementation and address issues like research funding models.
  • Replacement of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) with the Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF), a metric-driven system designed for efficiency, with finalization targeted for mid-2026 following sector consultation.
  • Enhancements to regulatory frameworks for quality assurance, programme approvals, student mobility, and governance, including a code of standards for councils and an intervention mechanism for leadership failures, with Cabinet proposals due in 2026.
These initiatives seek to foster a competitive tertiary system that supports workforce skills, drives growth via targeted research, and improves student outcomes, diverging from prior recommendations for a centralized government agency in favor of collaborative structures.

Ongoing Pacific Peoples engagements

In January 2025, following a Cabinet reshuffle, Shane Reti retained the Minister for Pacific Peoples portfolio alongside new responsibilities in science and tertiary education, emphasizing efficiency and targeted support for Pacific communities amid fiscal constraints. Reti defended Budget 2025's $36 million reduction in Ministry for Pacific Peoples funding as a measure to prioritize economic growth and streamlined operations, arguing it would enable better resource allocation without undermining core services. Key initiatives under Reti's oversight included a funding increase for Pacific Wardens programs to enhance community safety, announced as part of Budget 2025 allocations, building on prior commitments to stronger neighborhoods. In August 2025, during parliamentary questions, Reti highlighted efforts to address high Pasifika unemployment rates through the Tupu Aotearoa initiative, proposing collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development to integrate Pacific-specific employment strategies. Reti advanced Pacific-led development priorities internationally, reaffirming New Zealand's support at the Pacific Islands Forum in July 2025 and delivering a speech on February 19, 2025, advocating for a "peaceful, prosperous, democratic Pacific" with focus on regional stability and peoples' welfare. In September 2025, he addressed the Ministry's future structure, including potential mergers of smaller agencies to improve effectiveness, amid ongoing reviews. Cultural and health engagements persisted, with Reti participating in Fijian Language Week celebrations on October 4, 2025, to promote Pacific languages and heritage. He represented at the 2025 Conference of the in from October 16, focusing on amid challenges, underscoring resilience for Pacific populations. The Ministry's Strategic Intentions for 2025–2029, released under his tenure, targeted disparities in , , , and through data-driven, community-focused plans.

Political positions

Health system reforms and decentralization

Reti has consistently advocated for decentralizing aspects of New Zealand's , criticizing the previous Labour government's 2022 reforms that abolished the 20 Health Boards (DHBs) and established the centralized Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (HNZ). These changes, implemented amid the , resulted in a loss of and , with services overly directed from , according to Reti. As Health Minister from November 2023, Reti prioritized restoring regional autonomy without fully reinstating DHBs, emphasizing that certain functions like national IT systems and specialized equipment (e.g., radiotherapy machines) should remain centralized, while devolving other decisions to local levels to improve responsiveness. In January 2024, he stated: "We’ve lost local decision making and it’s all owned by the centre," applying this critique to both HNZ and the now-disestablished Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whāia Ora). Key actions included the February 2024 introduction of the Pae Ora (Disestablishment of the Health Authority) Amendment Bill, which integrated health functions into HNZ and the Ministry of to enable localized commissioning and avoid parallel national bureaucracies. This empowered Iwi- Partnership Boards with a stronger in local decision-making, as outlined in Reti's March 7, 2024, speech to the boards in , where he envisioned communities leading adaptations. In July 2024, amid HNZ's projected $1.4 billion deficit—attributed to the prior reforms' inefficiencies—Reti replaced the board with commissioners, including Lester Levy, to refocus on frontline delivery and centralization's fiscal and operational failures. These steps aligned with National favoring over a "Wellington knows best" model, as Reti articulated in May 2024, while reinstating measurable absent under the previous centralized approach.

Social issues: Euthanasia, abortion, and conversion therapy

Reti voted against the End of Life Choice Bill at its first, second, and third readings in 2017, 2019, and 2019, respectively, making him the sole Northland MP to oppose its passage to referendum. As a general practitioner with over 16 years of experience, he argued in Parliament during the third reading on November 13, 2019, that euthanasia would introduce a "spectre... looming over every single consultation" and diminish the value of life, citing a personal anecdote of a patient's enduring "brightness" that would be extinguished under such a regime. In his role as Health Minister from 2023, Reti oversaw the statutory review of the End of Life Choice Act initiated in July 2024, emphasizing comprehensive consideration of public submissions despite his personal opposition to the law. On abortion, Reti voted against the Abortion Legislation Bill at all stages in 2019 and 2020, which decriminalized abortion up to 20 weeks' gestation and removed it from the Crimes Act. He also opposed provisions for "safe areas" around abortion providers to prevent harassment. Following the National Party's 2023 election victory, Reti affirmed as Health Minister on November 6, 2022, that the government would maintain existing abortion access, including tele-abortion services via the Decide platform, without altering legal settings established in 2020. Reti was one of eight National MPs who voted against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill at its third reading on February 15, 2022, which criminalized practices aimed at changing or suppressing an individual's , , or . He explained his opposition stemmed from insufficient protections in the bill for "reasonable parents having reasonable conversations with their children," noting that proposed supplementary order papers to address this clarity were . While stating he "abhors the practices" targeted by the legislation and recognizes diverse views on the issue, Reti advocated for implementation that upholds the bill's intended safeguards without overreach.

Public health policies: Fluoridation, obesity, and medical cannabis

Reti has consistently supported , citing that it reduces without significant risks. In opposition, as National's , he endorsed the benefits while expressing reservations about centralizing away from councils, describing it as potential over-reach that could undermine input. During his tenure as Health Minister from November 2023 to January 2025, the under his portfolio pursued compliance with fluoridation directives, including exploring legal measures against non-compliant councils to ensure approximately 2.3 million continued accessing fluoridated water supplies. On obesity, Reti has critiqued interventions perceived as prioritizing less urgent or ideologically driven measures over core public health threats. In November 2024, he directed the National Public Health Service to refocus efforts on serious issues like infectious diseases and tobacco control, implicitly criticizing a submission opposing a McDonald's outlet in Wānaka as misaligned with priorities amid New Zealand's high obesity rates affecting over 30% of adults. Earlier, in 2020, he opposed a proposed race-based prioritization for bariatric surgery access, arguing it unfairly disadvantaged obese individuals with socioeconomic or genetic factors by elevating ethnicity over clinical need. No major obesity-specific initiatives were advanced under his Health Minister role, with policy emphasis instead on broader nutrition briefings highlighting opportunities for improved physical activity without detailed Reti-led programs. Reti has advocated for expanded access to , authoring National Party policy and introducing a in 2021 to address regulatory gaps in the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme enacted in 2020. The bill sought to allow over-the-counter of low-THC cannabis products, reclassify cannabidiol (CBD) to reduce prescription barriers, and enhance Medsafe approvals for imported therapies, aiming to lower costs and increase availability for conditions like while maintaining quality controls. He expressed concerns over potential involvement in cultivation, citing reputational risks to New Zealand's pharmaceutical exports, and opposed public smoking of loose-leaf cannabis, distinguishing medical use from recreational. The bill faced opposition from Labour and Greens, who argued it could undermine patient safety, but Reti maintained it aligned with evidence of cannabis's therapeutic value without endorsing broader liberalization.

Infrastructure and access: Hospitals, cancer treatment

As Minister of Health from November 2023 to January 2025, Shane Reti directed Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) to prioritize enhancements as one of three core areas—alongside workforce and targets—to address longstanding deficiencies in facilities and . He issued a specific Letter of Expectations for 2024-25, mandating improved and to support reliable service delivery amid aging assets and capacity constraints. Reti also stressed the parity of digital with physical builds, advocating for a comprehensive 10-year investment plan by late 2024 to integrate data , reduce inefficiencies, and enable better resource allocation across . Reti's tenure aligned hospital upgrades with government health targets, including reductions in emergency department waits and elective surgery backlogs, which indirectly hinged on infrastructural reliability to boost throughput. He supported localized progress, such as ongoing developments at —including a new child health unit and additional carparks—aimed at easing access pressures in underserved regions. However, prior to his appointment, Reti had criticized previous Labour delays in projects like the upgrade, positioning National's approach as corrective through targeted and oversight. On cancer treatment access, Reti championed a $604 million Pharmac funding increase over four years, announced , to fund up to 26 new life-extending therapies previously unavailable or restricted . This facilitated approvals for four initial medicines by , with directives to for streamlined patient access nationwide. He incorporated faster cancer pathways into the government's five health targets, aiming for 90% of patients to start treatment within four weeks of a specialist decision, backed by investments radiography equipment and expanded diagnostic capacity. Reti also received briefings on extending publicly funded cancer drugs to private settings, reflecting efforts to leverage non-public infrastructure for broader access without increasing public waitlists. Critics, including blood cancer patient groups, argued that the Pharmac uplift fell short of international standards, leaving some standard treatments—funded abroad—unavailable and accusing the government of unmet pre-election commitments on specific drugs. Reti maintained that the phased rollout prioritized evidence-based, cost-effective options to maximize reach within fiscal limits, contrasting with prior underfunding that had constrained Pharmac's budget.

Controversies and criticisms

Te Whatu Ora board replacement and governance changes

On 22 July 2024, Health Minister Shane Reti announced the dismissal of the entire board of – Health , appointing former board chair Lester Levy as sole commissioner for a 12-month term to oversee the organization's reset. The move addressed documented failures in financial oversight, with projecting a $1.4 billion deficit amid operational overspends exceeding $500 million in the prior year. Reti cited these issues, including inadequate and inherited structural inefficiencies from the 2022 centralization of district health boards, as necessitating immediate intervention to prevent further fiscal deterioration. Levy's mandate included implementing rapid cost controls, such as workforce reductions and procurement reforms, while advancing decentralization by empowering regional leadership to tailor services. On 31 July 2024, Reti endorsed the appointment of four regional commissioners – Andrew Connolly (Northern), Chris Bunny (Waitaha/Canterbury), Peter Bramley (Midland), and Dr. Sue Murray (Central) – to drive local decision-making and reduce bureaucratic central control from Wellington. These changes aligned with the coalition government's Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act amendments, emphasizing measurable performance targets over top-down mandates. The board replacement drew from Labour Party figures, who argued it undermined institutional stability without addressing shortfalls, though Reti countered that prior had enabled unchecked expenditure, with audits revealing unmonitored contracts and duplicated roles. By , Levy's oversight led to the removal of Te Whatu Ora's amid ongoing deficit , underscoring persistent gaps. Levy's term concluded in 2025 with the formation of a reconstituted board, though Reti had by then transitioned from the portfolio.

Hospital upgrade delays and private interests allegations

In November 2023, shortly after the formation of the National-led coalition government, Shane Reti indicated that the redevelopment would undergo as part of a broader assessment of commitments inherited from the previous Labour administration. This announcement, made in the context of Reti's as MP for and incoming Health Minister, elicited and concerns from professionals about potential further to the long-planned , which had already faced pauses under Labour in 2018. Critics, including voices on social media and in political commentary, alleged a conflict of interest, pointing to Reti's minority shareholdings in Whangārei Doctors Limited and Primecare Kensington Services Limited—entities linked to medical services and a private hospital in Whangārei—as motivation for scrutinizing or slowing the public project to benefit private alternatives. These holdings, placed in a blind trust upon his appointment to Cabinet, were disclosed in parliamentary registers, but opponents argued the review timing raised questions about prioritization amid Northland's strained public health capacity, where emergency department wait times had led to 1,504 patients leaving without treatment in 2022 alone. Despite the initial review and ongoing funding pressures— with Health NZ identifying a shortfall risking the project's scope by October 2024—the redevelopment has progressed without scaling back, with stage one reported on budget and targeting completion by 2031. Reti participated in the December 2024 groundbreaking for the new child health centre, emphasizing continuity in addressing regional needs. No formal investigations into the alleged conflict have been reported, and Reti has advocated for private sector collaboration in health delivery without endorsing outright privatization.

Performance evaluations leading to portfolio changes

In January 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a Cabinet reshuffle that removed Shane Reti from the Health portfolio, replacing him with Simeon Brown to provide stronger "delivery and execution" amid public expectations for accelerated improvements in healthcare access. Luxon credited Reti with establishing "good foundations" by resetting the culture and performance of Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora), including setting new targets and refreshing leadership, but indicated the sector required intensified focus to meet demands. The reshuffle demoted Reti from fourth to in Cabinet rankings, reflecting an internal assessment of ministerial where high performers were rewarded with expanded roles, while Reti transitioned to portfolios deemed better suited to his strengths. He retained responsibility for and assumed new duties as Minister for Science, Innovation and , Minister for Universities, and Minister for . Luxon expressed ongoing in Reti, calling him a "" who accepted the changes gracefully. This adjustment followed persistent health sector pressures under Reti's tenure, including a $1.4 billion funding deficit at , staff shortages, and governance challenges that slowed decentralization efforts and target achievements, such as reducing emergency department waits (which improved to 82% of cases under six hours by late 2024) and enhancing timeliness. Opposition critics, including Labour's , linked these issues to Reti's policies like budget constraints and recruitment pauses, arguing they undermined trust in the . Reti described his time in Health as a "privilege" and pledged focus on innovation-driven growth in his reassigned areas, signaling no personal rift with Luxon. Political observers interpreted the move as prioritizing execution over foundational work, amid broader government goals for measurable outcomes by mid-term.

Personal life

Family and personal relationships

Reti was born to Ray Reti, who worked on a in Kawhia, and Robyn Reti, who took employment at State Advances Corporation after the couple relocated from Hamilton. His parents prioritized amid financial constraints, enabling Reti's academic pursuits. Reti has three adult children: twin daughters born around 1991 and a son born around 1990. The performs together at cultural events, including , reflecting their shared heritage and musical talents. Reti has described himself as a doting grandfather.

Community and charitable activities

Reti has participated in community remembrance events, including laying on behalf of the Opposition at the Tomb of during commemorations on November 11, 2021. In April 2025, he laid at the ANZAC Dawn Service in Whangārei. Prior to his full-time political career, Reti served three terms on the Board of the Northland District Health Board, contributing to regional health planning and governance from 2001 onward. In late 2024 or early 2025, during a parliamentary break amid a tropical cyclone, Reti volunteered for a week at a medical clinic in the Cook Islands, providing charitable medical assistance.

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