16 Facts About Rana Waitai

Rana Donald Waitai was a New Zealand politician and lawyer.

Rana Waitai was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives representing Te Puku o Te Whenua, for the New Zealand First Party and Mauri Pacific Party from 1996 to 1999.

Rana Waitai later served as a member of the Wanganui District Council.

Rana Waitai's father was Te Rangi Koroingo Te Oreore Waitai born and died in Lower Hutt.

Rana Waitai's mother was Mavis Lillian Waitai born in Nelson and died in Lower Hutt.

Rana Waitai was the partner of Te Aroha Ann Ruru Stanton from 1966 to 1995 and they had four daughters.

Rana Waitai later became a trainee probation officer at Wellington and in 1965 joined the New Zealand Police.

In 1979 Rana Waitai was the Duty Inspector at Police National Headquarters when Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed on Erebus.

Rana Waitai was involved in the New Zealand National Party between 1973 and 1992, quitting after a dispute with then Prime Minister, Jim Bolger.

Rana Waitai campaigned on improving public safety, scaling back sewage infrastructure to save on costs, promoting inner city living and giving jobs to unemployed people to convert unused office space into accommodation.

Rana Waitai was first elected to Parliament in the 1996 election as New Zealand First MP for the Maori electorate of Te Puku O Te Whenua as one of the Tight Five, having previously stood for the Gisborne seat.

In 1998, when New Zealand First splintered, Rana Waitai was one of the eight MPs who left the party.

Rana Waitai eventually joined with four other MPs to form the Mauri Pacific party.

In 2005, Rana Waitai attempted to re-enter politics as a by-election candidate for the Wanganui District Council.

Rana Waitai was deputy chairman of the council's Harbour and Maori committees.

Rana Waitai was not successful in gaining re-election to the council in 2010,2013 or 2014.