Current parliamentary roles

• Minister of Defence
• Minister of Research, Science and Technology
• Associate Minister for Economic Development
• Associate Minister for Tertiary Education
• Member, Privileges Committee

Former parliamentary roles

• Member, Foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee 4 March 1997-19 October 1999
• Member, Justice and law reform select committee 4 March 1997-18 June 2002
• Spokesperson, Defence 1999-2002
• Spokesperson, Justice 1999-2002
• Associate Spokesperson, Treaty of Waitangi 1999-2002
• Member, Māori affairs select committee 21 December 1999-13 August 2001
• Spokesperson, Disarmament and Arms Control 15 August 2002-2 November 2003
• Spokesperson, Foreign Affairs 15 August 2002-2 November 2003
• Spokesperson, Housing 15 August 2002-2 November 2003
• Member, Social services select committee 27 August 2002-15 October 2002
• Member, Foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee 27 August 2002-4 November 2003
• Spokesperson, Constitutional and Treaty of Waitangi Issues 2 November 2003-9 August 2004
• Spokesperson, Immigration 2 November 2003-9 August 2004
• Member, Education and science select committee 4 November 2003-13 August 2004
• Member, Maori affairs select committee 4 November 2003-13 August 2004
• Associate Spokesperson, Constitutional and Treaty of Waitangi Issues 9 August 2004-26 October 2005
• Spokesperson, Labour and Industrial Relations 9 August 2004-1 December 2006
• Spokesperson, Political Correctness Issues 26 October 2005-1 December 2006
• Member, Transport and industrial relations select committee 9 November 2005-5 December 2006
• Member, Privileges Committee 16 November 2005-3 October 2008

Personal details

Born 12 March 1952, Te Kopuru, married to Denese Henare

Education/qualifications

• LLB (Hons), Auckland University
• LLM, Toronto
• PhD, Cambridge University
• Barrister and Solicitor

Career

• Lawyer, Private Practice 1978-1982
• Lecturer, Commercial Law, Auckland University 1984-1994
• Associate Professor, Commercial Law, University of Auckland 1994-1996
• Former Deputy Dean, Commerce Faculty, University of Auckland
• Former Chairperson, Māori and Pacific Islands Students Admission Scheme
• Former Developer, Diploma in Business (Māori Development)
• Author in the field of international trade law and taxation law

Community activities

• Former Commissioned Officer, NZ Territorial Army, specialising in military intelligence and infantry
• Member, Lion Nathan Māori Youth Scholarship selection panel

Party activities

• Member, National Party 1982-
• Divisional Policy Chairperson, Auckland 1993-1996

Leisure activities

Private plane and glider pilot enthusiast, keen sailor