Claudette Hauiti


Claudette Hauiti is a New Zealand politician and was a member of the House of Representatives in 2013 and 2014. She is a member of the National Party.

Early life

A broadcaster, Hauiti has worked as a producer and as a back up presenter on Eye to Eye with Willie Jackson.
In the 2002 TV Guide NZ Television Awards she won the Best Entertainment Series award for Polyfest 2001. She also produced the documentary Children of the Revolution, which won the Best Maori Language Programme award at the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards.
Prior to becoming an MP, she held several high-profile roles, including deputy chair at Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology, and strategy roles with Ngāti Te Ata and an iwi radio station.

Political career

During the 2010 Auckland local elections, Hauiti stood for the Albert-Eden Local Board in the Owairaka Subdivision. Representing Citizens & Ratepayers, she was not elected.
Hauiti stood in the electorate during the 2011 general election representing National, losing to Labour's William Sio.
Following Aaron Gilmore's resignation, Hauiti replaced him as a list MP on 28 May 2013.

Departure from Parliament

In March 2014 she returned her parliamentary charge card to Parliamentary Services, after using it to pay for a Christmas trip to Australia. She announced her resignation from politics on 22 July 2014. Hauiti left Parliament prior to the election date in order to get back in private business.In December 2014 and again in January 2015 Hauiti re-appeared in media when she was found to have spent approximately $23,000 on MP's expenses despite her known decision to stand down.
Her second media appearance came when her sister had an employment-related dispute with Raukawa FM, a station formerly run by Hauiti as Strategic Advisor.

Personal life

Hauiti is Māori, of Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kuta and Ngāti Ruanui descent. She is a lesbian, and a former Labour Party campaigner.