Current parliamentary roles

• Member, Maori Affairs Committee
• Spokesperson, Maori Affairs
• Spokesperson, Fisheries

Former parliamentary roles

• Associate Minister for Economic Development 10 December 1999-26 July 2000
• Associate Minister of Maori Affairs 10 December 1999-26 July 2000
• Associate Minister of Employment 10 December 1999-19 May 2003
• Associate Minister of Education 10 December 1999-19 November 2008
• Member, Law and order select committee 21 December 1999-27 March 2000
• Acting Minister of Maori Affairs 21 June 2000-26 July 2000
• Minister of Maori Affairs 26 July 2000-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister of Tourism 17 March 2001-15 August 2002
• Associate Minister of Fisheries 17 March 2001-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister of Forestry 15 August 2002-21 December 2004
• Assocaite Minister for Social Development and Employment 19 May 2003-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister of State Services 21 December 2004-19 November 2008
• Associate Minister of Youth Affairs 21 December 2004-19 October 2005

Personal details

Born 9 November 1950, Tolaga Bay, widower with three sons and one mokopuna. Brought up in an extended whanau with particular guidance from his grandmother

Education/qualifications

• Mangatuna Native School
• Tolaga Bay Area School

Career

• Former Labourer
• Former Shearer
• Former Farm Overseer
• Former Forestry and Fencing Contractor
• Worked in newspaper industry
• Former Qualified Printer
• Former Public Servant, East Coast, Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay work schemes, Department of Labour
• Former Manager, Group Employment Liaison Scheme, Department of Labour
• Former Field Officer, Group Employment Liaison Scheme, Department of Labour
• Director, Maori Perspective Unit, Department of Labour 1988-1988
• Manager, Community Employment Development Unit, Department of Labour -1992
• General Manager, Community Employment Group, Department of Labour 1992-1998

Community activities

• Former Maori Warden
• Former Chairperson, Hatea Rangi Maori Council Executive
• Former Chairperson, Ngati Porou Te Kohanga Reo Trust Training Board
• Former Member, New Zealand Lotteries Youth Advisory Board

Leisure activities

Gardening, travelling, listening to Jazz and Blues. Keen supporter and former representative of the East Coast rugby team, has also enjoyed participating in other sports, particularly boxing.