National minister Dr Shane Reti has announced his retirement from politics, effective from the November 7 election. 

He currently holds a number of ministerial portfolios, including Universities, Science, Innovation and Technology, and Statistics. 

Dr Reti previously served as deputy leader of the National Party under Judith Collins. 

Upon entering Government in 2023, Dr Reti held the role of Minister of Health, but that was stripped of him early last year as part of a Cabinet reshuffle. 

His upcoming retirement may prompt Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to remove him from Cabinet at the upcoming reshuffle. 

That would give Luxon another opportunity to elevate fresh talent into the ministerial ranks. He will already have to find a replacement for Collins, who is also leaving politics. 

“I want to thank the people of Whangārei for the great privilege of serving them and to my partner and family for their understanding and unconditional contribution to this career,” Dr Reti said. 

“I have always felt valued by the National Party and for that I thank the Prime Minister, local party executive, and my colleagues and staff in Wellington and Whangārei offices for their support over many years as Whangārei MP, Deputy Leader of the National Party, Interim leader of the National Party and as a Minister. 

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - March 03: Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Shane Reti on his way to the House, Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand, March 03, 2026. Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell 

“Highlights include progressing the 4 lanes to Whangārei and advancing policies that as Minister of Health expanded breast cancer screening for 70–74-year-old NZ women and established a 3rd medical school at Waikato. 

“Reshaping the science and technology sector to look more like other small advanced economies that improves benefits to taxpayers has been a privilege – especially amalgamating the 7 Crown Research Institutes into 3 Public Research Organisations.”