About me

I’m a Pukerua Bay local – ocean swimmer, vege grower, mum and community advocate. I beleive in the power of people to shape the community they live in. I was a city councillor in my twenties in West Auckland. I went on to work in local government, including ten years with Porirua City Council starting as a Community Development Officer and ending up as the General Manager Strategy and Planning. I really care about local government. Councils look after so many things of importance to us and their decisions shape our communities forever.

Over the past three decades, I’ve worked in and alongside communities across Aotearoa. I’ve been Chief Executive of Lifewise, helping create new responses to homelessness and child wellbeing. I’ve served as Acting Chief Executive at the Human Rights Commission, and I’ve led strategy and planning at Porirua City Council—where I helped deliver the award-winning Village Planning Programme.

I’ve served on international, national and local boards, including Community Housing Aotearoa and the Pukerua Bay Residents Association, and I’m accredited in public participation through IAP2. Whether in governance, policy, or local action, I’ve always worked to make systems more people-centred and responsive to the communities they serve.

I’m from Auckland, a first-generation New Zealander but my partner and I have lived in Pukerua Bay for 30 years – we raised three children here. I can see public interest in Council affairs waning at the very time that some of the most critical decisions are being made.

So I figure the time is now to speak up for local government and contribute my skills and experience.

I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment, drop me a message, or come say hi at one of the local events. Let’s keep the kōrero going—because building a better Porirua starts with listening to each other.