I was born in Christchurch of European and Māori (Ngai Tāhu) descent, but only discovered my Māori heritage late in life. I studied Physics at Canterbury University and Theology at St John’s College, Auckland before being ordained for ministry in the Anglican Church in 1965. I spent almost 40 years in ministry with the church in Auckland and Singapore, including Chaplaincy to the NZ Army and Police and establishing a new Presbyterian congregation in Auckland for young, English-speaking, Chinese New Zealanders.

In 2000 I retired from full-time ministry, worked as a Driving Instructor, now with my own driving school, and studied part-time at the University of Auckland, graduating in 2012 with an M.Sc. in Geology. Since then I have been an Honorary Research Assistant at the University, working in Hydrothermal Paleoecology and Astrobiology, assisting with the Hot Springs Research Group and  participating in Te Ao Marama (The Centre for Fundamental Inquiry).