Former House Speaker Adrian Rurawhe dies following illness

Former Speaker of the House and longtime Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe has died following a recent illness, his whānau have confirmed.

Rurawhe, of Rātana Pā, served in Parliament from 2014 until his retirement earlier this year and held some of the House’s most senior positions, including Speaker from August 2022 to December 2023. His family said he died peacefully with whānau close by, describing his death as a major loss for those closest to him, Te Haahi Rātana, Ngāti Apa, Whanganui and his former colleagues in Parliament.

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Rurawhe entered Parliament after winning Te Tai Hauāuru for Labour at the 2014 general election. He retained the Māori electorate in 2017 and 2020 before returning to Parliament as a Labour list MP following the 2023 election.

His parliamentary career also included service as Assistant Speaker from 2017 to 2020 and Deputy Speaker from 2020 until his election as Speaker in 2022.

Image: 1News reported at the time that Ardern welcomed Rurawhe into the Speaker’s role by acknowledging the “proud history and mana” he brought to Parliament, and said his earlier hesitation about taking the position had been an early sign he was suited to it. (The Governor-General)

When Rurawhe was elected Speaker on August 24, 2022, then-prime minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed him to the role and praised the “proud history and mana” he brought to Parliament.

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Ardern recalled that Rurawhe had initially been hesitant when she first raised the prospect of becoming Speaker, saying that reluctance was, in her view, an early sign he was suited to the position.

Before entering national politics, Rurawhe was chairman of Ngāti Apa and worked in health and education. His family had a deep parliamentary history. In his maiden speech, he acknowledged relatives who had previously represented Western Māori, including his grandfather Matiu Rātana and grandmother Iriaka Rātana.

He also served as Labour’s junior whip in 2017 and later held Māori development and Whānau Ora responsibilities. After leaving the Speaker’s chair, he continued committee work, including on Māori Affairs, before formally bringing his parliamentary career to an end at the beginning of 2026.

Rurawhe announced his resignation from Parliament in January, with his departure taking effect on February 6. His resignation created a Labour list vacancy later filled by Georgie Dansey. His whānau said they were grateful for the messages, prayers and expressions of aroha shared with Rurawhe and the family during his illness.

Funeral arrangements will centre on the communities that shaped his life.

Rurawhe will lie in state at Whangaehu Marae before being laid to rest at Ngā Puketuurua, Rātana Pā. His death closes a parliamentary career spanning four Parliaments and more than a decade in national politics.

The rise from Te Tai Hauāuru MP to Speaker placed Rurawhe within the House during the final years of the previous Labour government, while his connections to Rātana, iwi leadership and the Māori electorate remained central throughout his public life.

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