I was born on 3 September 1959 in Awanui, Northland. His tribal links are to Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto and have Welsh and Dalmatian heritage.

Local elders raised money to send me to board at St Stephens College in Bombay. From there I went to Auckland and Victoria Universities to study politics.

Between 1988 and 1990 I set up the Maori Policy Unit at the new Ministry for the Environment and later did a year in the PM’s Department under Geoffrey Palmer. With four children in tow I then spent a year at Harvard completing a Masters in Public Administration degree on a Harkness Fellowship.

I returned home in 1992 just as the Maori Fisheries Settlement deal was being completed and was appointed to the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. I took over as Chair in 2000. My task was to get approximately 70 iwi to agree on how to divide up the fisheries assets. This was completed in 2004 when the distribution legislation was passed.

I entered Parliament in 2005. Before being promoted to Cabinet in November 2007 as Minister for Building and Construction, I was chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. I was re-elected to Parliament in 2008 and am a member of the Transport Select Committee, and Finance and Expenditure select Committee. I am the Labour spokesman for Transport, Fisheries and Aquaculture, M_ori Economic Development and Infrastructure.

Ngareta & I have seven children, and one grandchild. My interests include sport, reading, gardening and spending time with his family.

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