Peter Thomas was raised in Moerewa and Pānguru. Te Waiariki, Ngātimanawa, Te Uri o te Aho and Te Waekoi are his Te Rarawa hapū.
Peter has extensive governance experience. He was chair of the Auckland Regional Leadership Group on whānauora, Co-Chair of Te Ora o Manukau improving the future urban environment for Māori communities, Māori caucus lead of the Public Health Association of New Zealand, a trustee of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and previous chair for INA (Māori, Indigenous & South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation.
Peter has held several executive Māori roles and worked in both government and non-government organisations. His background is in the health and social sector and Māori development. He has professional interests in housing, public policy, social justice, libraries, anthropology and oral histories.
A leader, promoter, broker and influencer in Māori development Peter continues to serve his people.