I was born in Taihape, and at a young age moved to Wellington where I had most of my primary schooling.

We moved back to Taihape, and I attended Taihape College before heading off to Massey University where I completed a B Sc (Hons) in Statistics and a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration.

Work after University took me back to Wellington where I still live today. My career, which has been largely focussed on the collection, analysis and dissemination of Māori statistics, started in the Department of Māori Affairs in 1985. With the closing of the department in 1989, I moved to Manatu Māori and then into Te Puni Kokiri. In 1996, I became manager of the Māori Statistics Unit in Statistics New Zealand, and in 2003 I moved to the Ministry of Education to work on the collection of Iwi statistics. I am still with the Ministry of Education, where I am currently the Manager of the Schooling Analysis Unit.

In my spare time, I had close involvement with Te Wananga o Raukawa where I taught Data Analysis papers from 1996 to 2006. Prior to working in the Ministry of Education I was a Board of Trustee member of my childrens’ school. I am a Trustee and Treasurer for the After School Care Program. I still keep myself physically active through refereeing rugby at competitive club level, and training for and participating in cycle leg of Iron Maori. I have also been involved with New Zealand’s association for demographers, the Population Association of New Zealand, where I had roles of Secretary, Vice President and President at various times.

I am married with three children.

I bring knowledge of governance, management, research and analysis to the Owhaoko B&D Trust.