Metiria Turei was a member of parliament for the Green Party Aotearoa New Zealand from 2002 to 2017 and its co-leader from 2009. She has recently retired from politics and is now studying at the Dunedin School of Art. She has a law degree from Auckland University and spent many years as a poverty activist, fighting for the rights of families to a decent income and quality housing. She has grown children and now lives in Dunedin, with her husband.