Labour Party

Former parliamentary roles

• Member, Health Committee 13 April 2005-3 August 2005
• Member, Regulations Review Committee 13 April 2005-3 August 2005
• Member, Regulations Review Committee 7 November 2007-3 October 2008
• Deputy-Chairperson, Health Committee 7 November 2007-3 October 2008
• Member, Transport and Industrial Relations Committee 28 February 2007-3 October 2008

Personal details

Born 5 November 1954, Invercargill, married with two step-sons.

Education/qualifications

• St. George Primary School, Invercargill
• Tweedsmuir Intermediate, Invercargill
• Southland Girls' High School, Invercargill
• Extramural student, Massey University 1972-1974
• Bachelor of Arts, Canterbury University 1975-1977
• PG Diploma, NZ Library School, Wellington 1975-1977

Career

• Clerk, Engineering Department, NZ Post and private accountancy firm 1972-1974
• Children's Library, Wellington Public Library 1978-1978
• Head Librarian, Hawera District Council, South Taranaki 1979-1981
• National Library of New Zealand Advisor, Children's Library, Invercargill 1982-1985
• Head Librarian, Southland Polytechnic 1985-1994
• Elected Representative, Southland Polytechnic Council 1990-1994
• Union organiser, NZEI Te Riu Roa 1996-March 2005
• Elected member, Southland District Health Board 2000-2004
• Deputy Chairperson, Southland District Health Board 2002-2004
• List member of Parliament 4 April 2005-11 August 2005, 19 February 2007-8 November 2008

Awards

James McConnell Scholarship, Canterbury University 1976

Community activities

• Member, Amnesty International
• Member, Southland Multinations
• Staff representative, Southland Polytechnic Council 1990-1994
• Delegate, National Council of Women 1995-
• Member, Vietnam Women's Project Committee 1995-
• Convenor, Southland CTU 1999-March 2005
• Chairperson, Disabilities Advisory Council, Southland District Health Board 2000-October 2004
• Chairperson, Kaitiaki Hauora Committee, Southland District Health Board 2000-October 2004
• Member, Southland Habitat for Humanity Finance Committee 2006-
• Patron, Southland Hospital Museum Trust 2006-

Party activities

• New Zealand Labour Party delegate to Australia and China
• Women's Vice President, Labour Party 1995-2006
• Member, Party Vote Working Party 1996-2002
• Convenor, Education and Housing Policy Committee 1999-2006
• Member, Labour Policy Council 2000-2006

Leisure activities

Reading, gardening, home renovation, drama, walking and travel.