Current Parliamentary Roles
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Chairperson of Officers of Parliament Committee
Chairperson of Standing Orders Committee

Former Parliamentary Roles
Appointed Junior Government Whip 1972-1975
Deputy and Acting Speaker 1974-1975
Senior Opposition Whip 1980-1984 and 1990-1996
Minister of Broadcasting 1984-1990; Postmaster General 1984-1987; Minister of Tourism 1988-1989; Minister of State and Leader of the House 1987-1990
Appointed Privy Councillor in 1988
Member of the Parliamentary Service Commission since its inception in 1985
Member of the Business Committee of Parliament since December 1996
Minister of Housing and NZSO 1989-1990 Minister of Communications 1990
Elected unanimously as Speaker of the House of Representatives on 20th December 1999
Re-elected Speaker 26 August 2002 (107 votes to 9)

Personal Details
Born 2 December 1938, not married

Education/Qualifications
Palmerston North Boys High School
Auckland Grammar
MA History (Hons) (Auckland)

Career
Teacher Kelston Boys High School 1961-1966
History tutor Auckland University 1964-1966

Party Activities
Long involvement with the Labour Party and held a range of offices from 1963-1968
President Princes St Branch 1963-1966
Elected Labour Party MP for New Lynn 1966 and held until 1996 election, when he was placed at number 7 on the list and stood in the Tamaki electorate
As one of the longest serving Members of Parliament, is often referred to as the "father" of the House

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