Government minister Wayne Mapp has announced he will retire from politics at the end of this parliamentary term, citing personal and family reasons.
Dr Mapp is Defence Minister and Minister for Research, Science and Technology and MP for the North Shore since 1996.
He says it has been a privilege to serve as an MP and in the Cabinet under Prime Minister John Key.
Mr Key says Dr Mapp has been an effective MP and the National Party will be sorry to lose him.
He congratulated the minister on his 15-year parliamentary career.
