Current parliamentary roles

• Member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
• Chairperson, Maori Affairs Committee

Former parliamentary roles

• Minister for Racing 16 December 1996-30 August 1998
• Associate Minister for Sport, Fitness and Leisure 16 December 1996-2 August 1998
• Minister of Maori Affairs 16 December 1996-10 December 1999
• Associate Minister of Corrections 31 August 1998-10 December 1999
• Associate Minister of Education 31 August 1998-10 December 1999
• Associate Minister of Tertiary Education 21 June 1999-10 December 1999
• Associate Spokesperson, Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Māori Affairs (Treaty Negotiations) 26 October 2005-1 December 2006
• Associate Spokesperson, Education (Early Childhood) 26 October 2005-1 December 2006
• Member, Maori Affairs Committee 9 November 2005-3 October 2008
• Member, Transport and Industrial Relations Committee 9 December 2008-20 October 2011
• Deputy Chairperson, Auckland Governance Legislation Committee 28 May 2009-20 October 2011

Personal details

Born 29 September 1960, Auckland. Iwi affiliation : Ngati Hine

Education/qualifications

Hillary College 1974-1977

Career

• Early Childhood Education Consultant
• Radio Talkback show host
• Former Youth Education Co-ordinator
• Member, Clerical Workers' Union 1984-1988
• Advisory Officer, Maori Development, Waitakere City Council 1988-1990
• Advisory Officer, Department of Internal Affairs 1990-1994
• Director, Te Pataka Ohanga Ltd December 2004-May 2005

Community activities

• Trustee, Kura Kaupapa
• Trustee, Rutherford High School
• Chairperson, Tu Tangata Education Provider

Party activities

• Deputy Leader, New Zealand First 1993-1998
• Founding member and Leader, Mauri Pacific November 1998-