National MP Nuk Korako has announced his retirement after roughly five years in Parliament.
Chair of the Maori Affairs Committee Tutehounuku (Nuk) Korako listens to a coroner about practices surrounding whanau access to tupapaku (deceased). Photo: RNZ / Phil Smith
The list MP will be replaced by Paulo Garcia, who will become National's first Filipino MP.
Mr Korako is the chair of National's Māori caucus and was an unsuccessful contender in the Port Hills electorate for the past two elections.
He said he wanted to leave Parliament now to allow his successor time to get to know the issues and people of Port Hills ahead of next year's vote.
Mr Korako will give his valedictory speech on 1 May, 2019.