Rino Tirikatene wins Labour’s Te Tai Tonga selection

The Labour Party has selected Rino Tirikatene as its candidate for the Te Tai Tonga Māori electorate in next year’s general election.

Rino and the Tirikatene whānau have a long-standing relationship with the Labour Party. Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan held the Southern Māori seat for over 60 years.

“This is not my first time representing the Labour Party. At the tender age of 23 my father passed away, he was to stand for Labour in the Southern Māori seat. I took up his mantel in 1996 and carried on his journey,” said Rino Tirikatene.

“As Labour’s Te Tai Tonga candidate I hope to finish what he started in 1996 and bring the seat back home to Labour.”

Rino represents a new generation of Maori leader committed to serving his people.

The 37-year-old father of three was born in Rangiora and has spent the majority of his life in Wellington with short periods in Christchurch for schooling and work.

Rino has over 14 years experience working in Maori economic development roles and is a private consultant currently working on inter-indigenous development projects between Maori and the Pacific.

“Te Tai Tonga needs a strong new voice in Parliament, and I am going to work hard to ensure that come the general election next year I will be that strong new voice”, said Rino Tirikatene.

ENDS

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