Current parliamentary roles

• Co-Leader
• Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
• Associate Minister of Health
• Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
• Minister for Disability Issues

Former parliamentary roles

• Associate Minister of Health 10 December 1999-30 April 2004
• Associate Minister of Housing 10 December 1999-30 April 2004
• Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development) 10 December 1999-30 April 2004
• Associate Minister of Social Services and Employment (Social Services) 10 December 1999-19 May 2003
• Minister of State 10 December 1999-15 August 2002
• Associate Minister of Corrections 13 November 2000-15 August 2002
• Member, Transport and industrial relations select committee 19 June 2001-19 March 2002
• Member, Maori affairs select committee 27 August 2002-17 May 2004
• Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector 19 May 2003-30 April 2004
• Member, Primary production select committee 13 August 2004-11 August 2005
• Member, Regulations review select committee 10 November 2005-22 February 2006
• Member, Health Committee 9 November 2005-3 October 2008

Personal details

Born 8 April 1944, married with 6 children, 25 mokopuna and 7 mokopuna tuarua. Iwi affiliations : Ngati Apa, Nga Rauru, Tuwharetoa, Whanganui

Career

• Former Southern Regional Co-ordinator, Maori Access training programmes
• Worked in Maori Affairs Head Office
• Former Chief Executive, Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority
• Manager, Whanganui Regional Development Board Trust 1989-1989
• Manager, Whaioranga Iwi Social Services Unit 1991-1991
• Service broker, Te Puni Kokiri (Whanganui Office) 1993-1995

Community activities

• Former member, Evaluation team, first pilot cervical screening project for Maori women
• Former member, Kura Kaupapa Maori establishment task forces
• Founding team member, Te Awa Youth Trust 1980-1980

Party activities

• Labour member of Parliament until resignation 12 October 1996-17 May 2004
• Founding member, Maori Party