Labour Party

Honours/decorations

New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to education

Former Parliamentary Roles

• Spokesperson, Adult and Community Education 1993-1996
• Associate Spokesperson, Labour and Industrial Relations 1993-1996
• Member, Labour Committee 22 December 1993-6 September 1996
• Senior Whip 19 December 1996-27 November 1999
• Minister of Internal Affairs 10 December 1999-13 November 2000
• Minister of Veterans' Affairs 10 December 1999-15 August 2002
• Minister for State Owned Enterprises [Except TVNZ Ltd] 10 December 1999-21 December 2004
• Minister of Defence 10 December 1999-19 October 2005
• Minister of Tourism 10 December 1999-19 October 2005
• Member, Officers of Parliament Committee 27 August 2002-11 August 2005
• Member of Privileges Committee 3 March 2004-11 August 2005
• Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 21 December 2004-28 February 2005
• Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 18 February 2005-31 October 2007
• Minister of Justice 19 October 2005-31 October 2007
• Minister of Local Government 19 October 2005-31 October 2007
• Minister responsible for the Law Commission 19 October 2005-31 October 2007
• Member, Local Government and Environment Committee 7 November 2007-2 April 2008
• Member, Education and Science Committee 7 November 2007-3 October 2008
• Member, Regulations Review Committee 7 November 2007-17 December 2007
• Deputy-Chairperson, Regulations Review Committee 18 December 2007-3 October 2008

Personal details

Born 16 January 1956, Northampton, England, arrived in New Zealand at age 10. Married with three adult children, (two sons, one daughter)

Education/qualifications

• Wanganui Boys College
• Qualification in Social Work Supervision, Massey University
• Qualification in Adult Education, University of Waikato
• Qualification in Recreation, NZCRS

Career

• Worked for the Red Cross
• Worked for the Department of Social Welfare
• Worked for Otaki Health Camp
• Worked for the Palmerston North City Council
• Community Education Organiser, central North Island for 11 years
• Member for Tongariro 6 November 1993-6 September 1996
• Member for Taupo 12 October 1996-8 November 2008

Community activities

President, Japan Karate NZ

Leisure activities

Reading, listening to music, playing guitar. Trained in Aikido