[2] Rutherford's mother Sharon Nightingale is the National Party event manager in the Bay of Plenty.

[3] Before entering politics, Rutherford was a communications executive, and had worked for mayor and former National Party candidate Tania Tapsell at Rotorua Lakes Council.

[5] Rutherford was shortlisted for the National Party candidacy in the 2022 Tauranga by-election, held after the resignation of Simon Bridges, but lost out to Sam Uffindell.

[1] Rutherford was the youngest National Party candidate in 2023, but said he was mentored by Tony Ryall, who was also 26 when he was elected to represent Bay of Plenty.

[3] On election night, Rutherford received 23,303 votes, comfortably beating the Labour Party's Pare Taikato on 7,898.