| Current: |
Elected as Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie 1999
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation
Minister of Housing
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs |
| 1996 - 99: |
Labour List Member of Parliament based in the Maungakiekie electorate, and buddy MP for the Tauranga electorate.
- Labour Spokesperson on Ethnic Affairs
- Labour Spokesperson on Public Transport
- Associate Spokesperson on Labour Relations
- Member of Government Administration Select Committee (permanent member)
- Member of Transport and Environment Select Committee (replacement member)
- Member of Social Services Select Committee (replacement member)
- Member of Labour & Employment Caucus Committee
|
| Date of Birth: |
2 December 1955 |
| Family: |
Married to Carol - three children
Father: Kristian (Samoan)
Mother: Berys (NZ) |
| Previous Occupation: |
National Secretary - Service Workers Union |
| Work History: |
Employed as:
- journalist (1 year)
- freezer hand (1 year)
- student teacher (2 years)
- hotel worker (6 months)
- groundsman (4.5 years)
- union official (15 years)
|
Labour Party History: Member since 1981.
Worked in election campaigns in: 1978 - Papatoetoe (Eddie Isbey); 1981 - Eden (Ian Scott); 1984 - West Auckland (Jack Elder) and Tongariro (Noel Scott); 1987 - Eden (Richard Northey); 1990 & 1993 - Otara (Taito Phillip Field).
Attended on a regular basis both regional and national conferences.
Other Work:
- Member N.Z. Tourism Council (2 years)
- Trade Union Education Authority Board (2 years)
- National Executive (3 years)
- Director of Otahuhu, Otara and West Auckland Union Health Centres
- Trustee of Union Law Centre
Board of Trustees Chairperson, Otahuhu Intermediate School (3 years)
Interests:
I am a keen follower of Rugby League, having played when younger. I also enjoy cricket, touch football, horse racing and athletics. I enjoy most sports and follow my children's sports actively.
I enjoy listening to and playing music, having played drums in bands for some years. I like reading and writing (having worked as a journalist in my first job).
I occasionally write newspaper columns and had a regular 10 minute opinion slot on a small provincial radio station. I did one season on the "Ralston Group" on TV3 before it finished.
I have a strong interest in my Samoan heritage with an ambition to try and learn the language.
