Rana Waitai
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26 November 1942
NZ First (1993–1998)
Mauri Pacific (1998–1999)
Rana Waitai | |
|---|---|
 Waitai in Whanganui 2016 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Te Puku O Te Whenua | |
| In office 1996–1999 | |
| Majority | 2,386 (30.69%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rana Donald Waitai 26 November 1942 Wanganui, New Zealand |
| Died | 8 May 2021 (aged 78) Whanganui, New Zealand |
| Party | National (1973–1992, 2000–?) NZ First (1993–1998) Mauri Pacific (1998–1999) |
| Domestic partner | Te Aroha Ann Ruru Stanton (separated) |
| Children | 4 |
Rana Donald Waitai (26 November 1942 – 8 May 2021) was a New Zealand politician and lawyer. He 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. He later served as a member of the Wanganui District Council.
His father was Te Rangi Koroingo Te Oreore Waitai (August 1912 – 1989) born and died in Lower Hutt. His mother was Mavis Lillian Waitai (née Winduss) (May 1912 – 1997) born in Nelson and died in Lower Hutt.[citation needed]
Rana Waitai was the partner of Te Aroha Ann Ruru Stanton from 1966 to 1995 and they had four daughters.[citation needed]
Career
Following his secondary schooling at Wanganui Technical College, (now Whanganui City College), Waitai was a freezing worker at Wanganui in 1961, a bushman in 1961 at Karioi and also a factory worker. He later became a trainee probation officer at Wellington and in 1965 joined the New Zealand Police. In 1979 Waitai was the Duty Inspector at Police National Headquarters when Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed on Erebus. He rang Chief Superintendent Brian Davies who was at home in the evening: "We seem to have a small problem.... We have lost a DC-10 sir."[1] He retired from the Police at the rank of Superintendent after 31 years when he was elected to Parliament.
After leaving Parliament Waitai trained as a lawyer and worked as a barrister and solicitor in Whanganui.[citation needed]