Shane Reti becomes first GP to lead the National Party

“I now have all the staff, budget and responsibilities of the leader of the Opposition”

List MP Shane Reti is the first GP, and first medical practitioner, to become leader of the National Party, following Judith Collins being ousted from the job yesterday.

Dr Reti is also the first doctor to be leader of the Opposition since the position became established in 1889 – and the first recipient of the New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa’s To Infinity and Beyond Award to hold either role.

Ms Collins was removed in a caucus no-confidence vote after she demoted former leader Simon Bridges on Wednesday over comments he made to Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean about five years ago that he acknowledges were inappropriate.

Dr Reti, who was deputy leader, is now officially “interim leader” until the caucus meets next Tuesday to elect a new leader.

Last night in responding to a New Zealand Doctor email of congratulations, which noted his being the first GP to lead National, Dr Reti writes: “I hadn't thought but yes, that will be correct.

“As of this afternoon I now have all the staff, budget and responsibilities of the leader of the Opposition. My role here just now is to shepherd and guide the caucus through to next Tuesday so that we get there whole.”

READ MORE:

• Beyond the call of duty
• Nationals’ Shane Reti streaks ahead as preferred health minister in new poll
• Shane Reti replaces Michael Woodhouse as National’s health spokesperson

2014-2020 – National MP for Whangārei

2020-present – National list MP

15 July 2020 – Became National health spokesperson

10 November 2020 – Became National deputy leader

25 November 2021 – Became National interim leader

Dr Reti was named winner of the inaugural To Infinity and Beyond Award, also known by its trophy as the Buzz Lightyear Award, in 2004.

The award judges – the journalists at New Zealand Doctor – wrote that they chose Dr Reti because of his work beyond the call of duty and because he is “a humble family man prepared to spend his weekends knee deep in mud, knocking on doors, politely declining propositions, asking gang members about drug use, taking tea with fugitives and serving a population to the very best of his ability”.

They were referring to his traipsing around Northland to door-knock residents for a health survey that he conducted.

Dr Reti keeps up his GP skills by locuming in Northland during breaks from Parliament and he has helped out with COVID-19 vaccination in the region.

Shortly before last year’s election, he topped a survey of New Zealand Doctor subscribers as preferred health minister.