| 1969 | Elected a Member of Parliament |
| November 1969 to 1972 | Member of Parliament for Manukau Responsible for major policy development in areas of Industry and finance. Introduced Private Members Bill on Superannuation |
| November 1972 to 1975 | Minister of the Crown - Responsibilities including - Postmaster General; Minister of Broadcasting; Minster of Customs; Minister of Housing; Assisted Minister of Finance with introduction of Superannuation Scheme |
| November 1975 to 1984 | Member of Parliament Manukau/Manurewa Responsibilities including - Opposition Spokesman – Housing 1975-1980; Special Projects; Trade & Industry 1980-1983; Finance 1983-1984 |
| July 1984 to December 1988 | Minister of Finance, New Zealand. During term as Minister of Finance received the Euromoney Magazine Award for Finance Minister of the year 1985. |
| January 1989 to July 1989 | Member of Parliament for Manurewa |
| July 1989 to January 1990 | Minister of Police, Minister of Immigration |
| November 1989 | Announcement of retirement from politics at next election |
| July 1990 | Retired from Parliament |