Current parliamentary roles

• Member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
• Spokesperson, Ethnic Affairs
• Spokesperson, Foreign Affairs

Former parliamentary roles

• Spokesperson, Ethnic Affairs 1993-1996
• Member, Foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee 1993-1996
• Junior Whip 10 December 1999-27 July 2002
• Deputy Chairperson, Foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee 1999-2002
• Chairperson, Labour Caucus Foreign Affairs Committee 1999-2002
• Chairperson, Labour Caucus Immigration Committee 1999-2002
• Minister of Conservation 15 August 2002-5 November 2007
• Minister for Ethnic Affairs 15 August 2002-19 November 2008
• Minister of Local Government 15 August 2002-19 October 2005
• Minister for Building Issues 21 December 2004-19 October 2005
• Minister of Housing 19 October 2005-5 November 2007
• Minister of Education 5 November 2007-19 November 2008
• Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office 5 November 2007-19 November 2008
• Spokesperson, Education 20 November 2008-5 May 2009
• Deputy-Chariperson, Education and Science Committee 9 December 2008-6 May 2009

Personal details

Born 4 May 1952, Auckland, has a partner. New Zealand's first openly gay Member of Parliament

Education/qualifications

• MA (Hons) in History
• Teaching qualification

Career

• Former Secondary school teacher
• Former Poultry farmer
• Former Government Representative, New Zealand Poultry Board
• Director, New Zealand Egg Marketing Corporation 1986-1990
• Member, Film and Video Board of Review 1990-1993

Community activities

• Justice of the Peace
• Campaigner for the advancement of gay, lesbian and transgender rights since the early 1970s

Party activities

• Vocal advocate for the Rainbow Communities in Parliament
• Founding member, Rainbow Labour