Mita Ririnui

The Honourable Mita Ririnui MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour party list
In office 2005 – 2011
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waiariki
In office 1999 – 2005
Succeeded by	Te Ururoa Flavell
Majority	6,717 (44.44%)[info 1]
Personal details
Born	Tauranga, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Children	7
Residence	Tauranga
Religion	Rātana
At 2002 election

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

Early years

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

Member of Parliament

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

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

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

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

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

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

References

1. "Mita Ririnui". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
2. "Hon Mita Ririnui". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
3. "Goff demotes three MPs over credit card misuse". New Zealand Herald. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
4. "Mita Ririnui: Time for new challenges". New Zealand Labour Party. 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2011-02-15.