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National health spokesman Dr. Shane Reti has not denied that he has leadership ambitions.
The Northland MP joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford for the weekly segment Six and a Song.
While a few months ago Dr. Reti was in the back seat, he has quickly risen through the ranks, taking over the party’s health portfolio and becoming the highest-ranking Maori MP on the party’s roster.
His measured response to the Covid-19 outbreak has earned him praise from the general public: A listener sent a text message during the interview to say ‘Six months ago, I didn’t know who this guy was. Now I’m so impressed that I wonder where he’s been all my life. ‘
Dr. Reti insisted that he had been there but in “the engine room”, but the text prompted Simon to ask him if he had leadership ambitions.
“I think it is a decision of the National Party caucus, the people of the Whangarei electorate and the people of the party. That is a decision they would have to make. If they wanted me to occupy that position, it would be a privilege.”
Judith Collins is the current leader of the National Party.
When asked why he went into politics after 20 years of healthcare, Dr. Reti says it’s about helping more people.
“I can serve two to three thousand people [as a GP]. In my role as MP for Whangarei, I am responsible for 85,000 people and I look forward to helping more. “
Dr. Reti also spoke about her grandmother’s unusual practice of giving birth, why it was, and her time at Harvard Medical School.
