I come from a strong Labour family. My Grandfather was the MP for New Plymouth, and I see myself as part of the lucky generation, one who grew up with real choices. I grew up in the Manawatu, studied at Victoria University and then decided to travel.

I have lived in India, teaching music to Indian children and acting in Bollywood films and later on, lived in other cities like Hong Kong and London.

When I returned home, my partner settled in the Northland settlement of Maungakaramea where our son, Aish was born. After more overseas travel, we moved to Waitakere, in West Auckland.

Having a variety of jobs, including working as a Playcentre Supervisor, a self-employed music teacher, working for the Master of Armouries at the Tower of London and at the University of Auckland gave me a good overview of working life.

I became active in the union movement in the late 1980’s and in 1997 was elected as the first woman Secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union, representing tens of thousands of low paid New Zealanders working in hotels, hospitals, aged care, factories and schools.

During this time, I was also Vice President of the NZ Council of Trade Unions from 1999 – 2003 and was the Affiliates Vice President of the Labour Party from 2003 – 2005.

Since being elected to Parliament in 2005, I have continued my advocacy for low paid workers and their families. I am proud of Labour’s record and am determined to defend and enhance it in the next Labour government.

In my first parliamentary term, I was a member of the Health Select Committee, the Transport & Industrial Relations Select Committee, the Officers of Parliament Committee and was Deputy Chair of the Government Administration Committee.

As a second-term Labour List MP, I work in Auckland’s North Shore for Labour and serve on the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee.

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