Current parliamentary roles

• Leader
• Member, Business Committee
• Member, Primary Production Committee
• Member, Standing Orders Committee
• Opposition Spokesperson, Agriculture

Former parliamentary roles

• Alliance Spokesperson, Finance and Revenue 1996-1999
• Alliance Spokesperson, Senior Citizens 1996-1999
• Alliance Spokesperson, Superannuation 1996-1999
• Alliance Spokesperson, Treaty Issues 1996-1999
• Minister Responsible for the Public Trust Office 10 December 1999-01 March 2002
• Minister Responsible for the Audit Department 10 December 1999-27 July 2002
• Deputy Prime Minister 10 December 1999-15 August 2002
• Minister for Economic Development 10 December 1999-19 October 2005
• Minister for Industry and Regional Development 10 December 1999-19 October 2005
• Acting Minister of Consumer Affairs 23 February 2001-15 August 2002
• Acting Minister of Customs 23 February 2001-15 August 2002
• Minister Responsible for the Public Trust 6 March 2002-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister of Health 15 August 2002-19 November 2008
• Member, Standing orders committee 27 August 2002-11 August 2005
• Minister of Forestry 21 December 2004-19 November 2008
• Minister of Agriculture 19 October 2005-19 November 2008
• Minister for Biosecurity 19 October 2005-19 November 2008
• Minister of Fisheries 19 October 2005-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister for Tertiary Education 19 October 2005-19 November 2008

Personal details

Born 21 January 1938, Auckland, married with three sons, one daughter

Education/qualifications

• Seddon Memorial Technical College
• Auckland Teacher's College

Career

• Teacher for two years
• Former Child Welfare officer, Education Department, Wanganui
• Councillor, Manukau City 1965-1968
• Secretary, Catholic Diocesan Office, Auckland 1967-1969
• Export Manager, UEB Textiles 1969-1970
• Managing Director, Anderton Holdings 1971-1984
• Councillor, Auckland City 1974-1977
• Member, Auckland Regional Authority 1977-1980

Party activities

• Member, Labour Party 1963-18 April 1989
• President, Labour Party 1979-1984
• Member, Labour Party Policy Council 1979-1989
• Member of Parliament, Sydenham electorate 14 July 1984-6 September 1996
• Independent member of Parliament 18 April 1989-2 May 1989
• Leader, New Labour Party 2 May 1989-1 December 1991
• Leader, Alliance Party 1 December 1991-10 November 1994
• Leader, Alliance Party 7 May 1995-27 July 2002
• Member of Parliament, Wigram electorate 12 October 1996-
• Leader, Progressive Coalition 27 July 2002-15 April 2004
• Leader, Progressive Party 15 April 2004-

Leisure activities

Enjoys golf, chess, cricket, classical guitar