I am a proud Aucklander living in the electorate of Maungakiekie where I am an active Labour list MP with an office in Onehunga and in Panmure. I grew up in a family where we struggled to make ends meet and I understand the stress this puts on families. My parents believed in a fair go for everyone, the importance of working hard and the value of education. These are the values that have shaped my life. Due to an inspirational teacher I didn't leave school at 16 but ended up going to University and Teachers College. During my secondary and tertiary education I worked to support myself - as a cleaner, retail worker, kitchen hand and labourer. I first joined a union as a 16 year old cleaner and to this day I have always belonged to a union. I have lived and worked in a number of places - Wellington, London and Sydney but Auckland is definitely home. My working life has also been varied - I have worked as a researcher, educator, advocate, manager and leader. My full time work has been in the community health sector and in the union movement here and overseas.

I am a passionate and experienced advocate for social justice who believes in fairness, opportunity, prosperity and sustainability. I have always been involved in representative and advocacy roles seeking to make positive change. I fully understand the importance of accountability to those you represent. For all New Zealanders I want to work to strengthen our democracy so people know how to build the New Zealand they want for their children and grandchildren. I have been politically active in unions, women's organisations, student groups, community health initiatives and the Labour party. I am currently a member of the Onehunga-One Tree Hill Rotary, Dolphin Theatre, Business and Professional Women Tamaki, UN Women, Mt Wellington Panmure RSA and Onehunga RSA , the Working Women’s Resource Centre and the YWCA. I am also a mentor on the 4 year YWCA Future Leaders programme. Before being elected to Parliament I worked for the NZ Council of Trade Unions, first establishing an Organising Centre in Auckland and then in a leadership role as the elected Secretary.

My areas of a responsibility as an MP are working in the Maungakiekie electorate and as our Spokesperson on Women’s Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Associate Education Spokesperson (Skills and Training). I am a member of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee which has been dealing with the Alcohol Reform Bill. Two years ago I launched the Stop Loan Shark campaign and have actively campaigned around this issue with many community organisations.

I love living, working and participating in the community in the electorate of Maungakiekie, which is a beautiful, centrally located part of Auckland with a wonderfully diverse population. We have a natural environment that includes the Manukau Harbour, the Panmure Basin, the Tamaki river, Maungarei (Mt Wellington), Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) and Mutukaroa (Hamlins Hill). We have the distinct town centres of Panmure, Onehunga and Ellerslie with strong Business Associations and community organisations. We have mixed residential, industrial and commercial land use. Issues for the Maungakiekie electorate include:

Environment – protecting our natural environment, ensuring green space for the community and the restoration of our foreshore in Onehunga

Transport - public transport improvements including strengthening and expanding rail services, ensuring the AMETI project is undertaken in a way that doesn’t negatively impact on Panmure, upgrading the bus terminal in Onehunga and dealing with roading issues associated with Neilson Street

Housing – more suitable and affordable housing and ensuring our community have access to safe and secure homes, ensuring that Tamaki Transformation urban renewal fully involves the community and does not diminish the stock of Housing NZ properties.

Employment and Training – active government is required to provide an environment that supports economic growth. Investment in R&D and skills is critical, as is a fairer tax system that supports productive rather than speculative investment. 58,000 people under 24 years of age are not in school, training or work – we will address this as a priority as the costs of not acting far outweigh the costs of investing in our young people.

Poverty – there are many children and families living in poverty in our community. This is shocking in a wealthy country like New Zealand, a country that however is becoming increasingly unequal. We will lift the minimum wage, reduce taxes and ensure that prices do not rise as a consequence of privatisation and asset sales

Crime – there are concerns about increasing levels of crime locally. The answer includes dealing with the causes of crime including unemployment, poverty and alcohol abuse. We need to deal with family and sexual violence which is widespread in our community and our country. Ensuring we have adequate and fair police resources is important as is supporting our community constables and neighbourhood watch and community safety initiatives.

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