As the MP for Tukituki and mother of four school-aged children, Catherine is deeply passionate about her community, involved in local sports groups and various community organisations.

Catherine has a Bachelor of Laws and Arts, majoring in Political Science and English and a post graduate diploma in Journalism. She has been a Youth MP for the New Zealand Youth Parliament and spent years working as a TV reporter for TVNZ and the BBC in London.

Before becoming an MP she was an experienced marketing executive in the horticulture industry having previously worked as a business director and senior marketing executive at Bostock New Zealand and a director on the New Zealand Apples and Pears Board.

In these former roles, she has been responsible for promoting the regions premium produce, adding value to the amazing produce the Hawke’s Bay region grows and helping diversify the overseas markets exporters send their products to.

Catherine is a strong advocate for the primary industries and trade and exports and supports the growth of the Hawke’s Bay economy, which will grow jobs and opportunities.

She has previously sat on school board of trustees and is passionate about lifting performance in education.

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Catherine has been working closely with devastated communities to support the rebuild and recovery to ensure the region gets back on its feet quickly.

The Four Lane Expressway has been a priority for Catherine, and she has been working hard to ensure it’s on the Governments Roads of National Significance priority list.

She has also had her first Members Bill pulled from the ballot in 2024 which is aimed at increasing support for new mothers to three days of post-natal care.

The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill would allow women who have just given birth to access their choice of postnatal care for a minimum of 72 hours if desired, and longer than 72 hours if the need arises.

Funding for the postnatal care would be ring-fenced, so when one mother chooses not to take up the full 72 hours, the funding is retained and available for another mother who may need more time.

Catherine is also the chairperson of the New Zealand Population and Development Committee which is a cross-party group focused on championing sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in the Pacific as well as  the Deputy Chairperson, Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, a member of the Primary Production Select Committee and a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Minister Mark Mitchell for Cyclone Recovery. 

Watch my maiden speech here: https://vimeo.com/908083035