Born in Northampton England, he came to New Zealand with his family when aged 10.
Educated at Wanganui Boys College, he then gained social work, adult education and recreation qualifications and worked for a number of agencies including the Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare and the Palmerston North City Council. For more than 10 years he worked as a Community Education organiser in the central North Island. He was awarded a NZ 1990 Medal for services to education.
In opposition he served as spokesperson for adult and community education and was Senior Whip from 1996. Following the November 1999 election, he was appointed Minister of Defence, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Tourism, Minister for SOEs, Minister of Veteran's Affairs and Deputy Leader of the House.
The Minister likes to relax by reading, listening to music and playing his guitar. He is trained in the martial art of Aikido and is President of Japan Karate NZ.
