Member for Manurewa, Labour Party
Current parliamentary roles
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· Member, Social Services Committee
· Spokesperson, Community and Voluntary Sector
· Spokesperson, Youth Affairs
· Associate Spokesperson, Auckland Issues (South Auckland)
· Associate Spokesperson, Social Development
· Associate Spokesperson, Sport and Recreation
Additional parliamentary activities
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· Co-captain Parliamentary Netball team
· Co-chair Aotearoa Equality Group
· Co-chair Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary Group
· Member of New Zealand Parliamentary Delegation to the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Kampala, Uganda
· Member of New Zealand Parliamentary Delegation to the 128th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Quito, Ecuador
Former parliamentary roles
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· Member, Health Committee 8 March 2008-3 October 2008
· Member, Justice and Electoral Committee 8 March 2008-3 October 2008
· Member, Law and Order Committee 18 May 2011-20 October 2011
· Member, Regulations Review Committee 22 June 2011-20 Oct 2011
· Spokesperson, Sport and Recreation 19 December 2011-25 February 2013
· Member, Maori Affairs Committee 21 December 2011-27 February 2013
· Associate Spokesperson, Health (Inequalities) 25 February 2013-23 September 2013
· Associate Spokesperson, Civil Defence and Emergency 11 July 2013-23 September 2013
· Member, Health Committee 27 February 2013-25 September 2013
Education/qualifications
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· Diploma in Sport and Recreation, Waikato Polytechnic/University of Waikato 1990-1991
· Bachelor of Social Policy and Social Work, Massey University, Albany 1995-1999
· MPhil (Social Policy), Massey University, Albany 2000-2002
Career
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· Recreation Consultant and Support Worker, Rakau Ora Trust, Hamilton
· Youth Action Tutor, Relief Tutor and Receptionist, Te Rapunga o Poutama Work and Education Trust
· Tuhono Ratonga/Care Co-ordinator, MOKO Services, Waitemata Health
· Member of the Silver Ferns, New Zealand Women’s Netball team 1989-1992
· Member, Hillary Commission August 2000-June 2001
· Member of the Black Ferns, New Zealand Women’s Rugby team 1994-2002
· Manager, Maori Health Research, Health Research Council of New Zealand July 2001-March 2004
· Member, Land Transport Safety Authority Board September 2001-December 2004
· Member, Te Roopu Manawa Mai (external Maori advisory group), ACC November 2002-November 2007
· Policy Advisor/Analyst, Race and Ethnic Affairs Team, Human Rights Commission July 2004-June 2006
· Weekly Column Contributor, New Zealand Herald July 2004-December 2005
· Member, Te Roopu Manaaki, Sport New Zealand December 2004-March 2008
· Weekly Newstalk ZB Contributor February 2005-December 2005
· Column Contributor, SPASIFIK magazine and Tu Mai magazine (various editions) 2005-2010
· Equity Advisor, AUT University June 2006-Oct 2006
· Member, Health Sponsorship Council August 2006-March 2008
· Programme Manager, Te Kahui Ora, Counties Manukau District Health Board October 2006-February 2008
· List member of Parliament 29 February 2008-8 November 2008
. Community Engagement Advisor, Families Commission February 2008-June 2008
. Principal Advisor (Health), Office of the Children’s Commissioner June 2008-April 2011
· List member of Parliament 6 April 2011-26 November 2011
Awards
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· New Zealand University Sportsperson of the Year 1997
· Massey University Sportsperson of the Year 1997
· New Zealand Women’s Rugby Player of the Year 1997
· Karahipi Wahine Maori scholarship, Ministry of Women’s Affairs 1999
· Inducted Taupo Sports Hall of Fame 2008
Community activities
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· Te Rapunga o Poutama Work and Educational Trust (various roles) November 1999-January 2008
· Member, National Maori Sports Awards Committee April 2003-March 2008
· Member, Northern ‘X’ Ethics Committee December 2004-March 2008
· Member, Maori Women’s Welfare League 2007-
· Member, AUT (Auckland University of Technology) Ethics Committee May 2009
Party activities
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· Chair of the Rainbow Labour Caucus
· Member of Policy Council representing Te Kaunihera Maori
Other
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· In 2004 I represented Auckland Rotary District 9920 in a Group Study Exchange to District 6190 to Louisiana, USA
· In 2006 I participated in the Commomwealth Study Conferences inaugural Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue.