Shane Reti
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.[1][2][3] 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.[4][5][6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9][6] 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.[8]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.[10][11] His siblings are Mark, Leanne, Michelle, and Kylie.[10] 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.[10][11] 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.[11][10] 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.[10][11] 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.[10]Academic and initial training
Reti completed a Bachelor of Human Biology at the University of Auckland prior to pursuing medical studies.[12] [13] 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).[10] [14] 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.[15] Following his medical degree, Reti obtained a Diploma in Obstetrics from the University of Auckland.[12] He subsequently completed a Diploma in Dermatological Science from Cardiff University in Wales in 1991, supporting his early focus on dermatology alongside general practice.[12][16] 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.[14] 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.[4][14] 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.[4][17] He established a medical clinic in the area, delivering primary healthcare services to local patients over a 16-year period prior to entering politics.[4][17][18] His practice emphasized routine general consultations, dermatological assessments, and family-oriented care in a regional setting characterized by rural and underserved populations.[4] 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.[19][18]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.[14] In 2007, Reti received the New Zealand Harkness Fellowship, enabling him to join Harvard Medical School, where he was promoted to Assistant Professor.[4] In this role, he oversaw operations for a division at Harvard and contributed to the implementation of health information technology systems.[10] 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.[14] 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.[4] 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.[17]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.[4][2] 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.[20][21] 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.[22] 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.[23] 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.[4][17] 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.[17]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.[24] 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.[2] 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.[25][2] 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.[4][2] As a new backbench MP in the governing coalition, 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.[2] He delivered his maiden speech on 30 October 2014, emphasizing themes of personal responsibility and health policy informed by his professional background.[11]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.[2] 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.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28] 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.[2]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.[2] 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.[29][30] 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.[31] He also highlighted emerging pressures on hospital capacity and elective surgery backlogs, attributing delays to underfunding and bureaucratic inefficiencies rather than solely pandemic effects.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.[35] 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.[32]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.[1] 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).[36] 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.[37] [38] In early 2024, Reti oversaw the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora), integrating its functions into Te Whatu Ora 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.[39] 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 Treaty principles in favor of measurable outcomes like improved access and affordability.[37] By July 2024, amid a projected $1.4 billion deficit at Te Whatu Ora—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.[36] [40] 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.[41] 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.[42] [43] 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.[44] 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.[15] 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.[45] 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.[46]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.[47] 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.[48] 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.[49] [50] 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.[51] 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.[52] 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.[53] 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.[54] In this capacity, he received briefings on modernizing statistical systems, including policy development and software updates to support evidence-based decision-making across government.[55] 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.[7] This reform aimed to align statistical practices with technological advancements while maintaining public trust in data integrity.[56]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.[5][57][58] 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.[59][60] 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.[61][62] Reti retained responsibility for Pacific Peoples but assumed the Science, Innovation, and Technology portfolio, succeeding Judith Collins, as well as regional development roles.[63][64] 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.[65][66] 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.[58][57] Critics within health policy circles questioned whether the leadership 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 accountability measures.[67][68] Reti's demotion drew limited public backlash, with some commentators noting his prior experience as National's health spokesperson under Luxon but highlighting delays in initiatives like hospital waitlist reductions and workforce recruitment as contributing factors.[5][60]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 Cabinet reshuffle, Shane Reti prioritized reforms to streamline New Zealand's science funding system, emphasizing economic growth and reduced bureaucracy over previous fragmented structures.[69] His approach involved consolidating seven Crown Research Institutes into three specialized public research organizations focused on bio-economy, climate and sustainability, and foundational science, with progress announced on 12 March 2025.[70] In Budget 2025, 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 research entities, announced on 22 May 2025.[71] This included up to $70 million over four years for the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology, aimed at advancing deep-tech commercialization, with a second major investment tranche detailed on 21 May 2025.[72] On 13 May 2025, he announced the formation of a new Bioeconomy Science Institute to drive biological innovation for economic productivity.[73] Additionally, on 3 September 2025, Reti approved $183 million through the Endeavour Fund for 19 contestable research programs targeting high-impact areas like advanced manufacturing and environmental technologies.[74] 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.[75] Complementing this, he launched the Prime Minister'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.[76][77] On 25 July 2025, alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Reti unveiled further details on the Institute for Advanced Technology as a cornerstone of system reforms.[78] Critics, including research sector commentators, have raised concerns that the funding overhaul and emphasis on applied, growth-focused science could undermine curiosity-driven discovery research, potentially exacerbating a brain drain from universities amid reprioritized budgets.[79][80] Reti has defended the changes as necessary to align public investment with national priorities, stating on multiple occasions that simplification would "drive innovation" without specifying protections for basic research.[81]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.[82] 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.[83] On 10 April 2025, Reti introduced legislative measures via the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) requiring each university council 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.[84] 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.[85][86]
- 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.[85][86]
- 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.[85][86]
- 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.[85]