I am a Northlander of Maori and Scot’s descent growing up in the magnificent beach settlement of Whananaki, being schooled in Whananaki, Hukerunui and Dargaville.

I have a nursing and social work background leading her into the Public Health arena and culminating in being appointed as Deputy Chair of The Northland District Health Board (NDHB) in 2000/2001, then Chair from 2001-2009.

Over a number of years I have served on numerous National Committees such as:National Health Committee Board Member, National Public Health Committee Board, Member Health Workforce Advisory Committee, Treaty of Waitangi Public Information Program Advisory Board, The District Health Board of New Zealand.

I was also the inaugural CEO for Te Tai Tokerau Maori Health Co-purchasing Organisation (MAPO), from 1996-2009. This role involved development with Iwi Health providers across Tai Tokerau, the establishment of Maori Primary Health Organisations, and later the establishment of partnerships between Iwi Health providers and mainstream providers, being government and non government organisations, to set up the current PHOs. In both roles I worked closely and constructively with The University of Auckland receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. I was awarded the Inaugural Dame Mira Szazy Maori Business Leadership Award, 2003.

I understand the cultural and socioeconomic diversity associated with Northland’s demography. I want to encourage and support an innovative clean-tech economy where we can improve performance, productivity and efficiency and in doing so reduce costs, raw materials, energy consumption and waste.

As a wife, mother and hands on Grandmother I am highly concerned about the direction the nation is being subjected to. We need to have strong policy to reduce child/family poverty by resetting the economic environment to encourage job creation, pay increases, skill development with equal opportunities and a fair go for all New Zealanders to participate in and own our future.

I love Northland and believe that our future, as a Nation, depends upon all New Zealanders being valued, included and progressively participating in policies that drive toward greater prosperity for all New Zealanders.

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