Cate has a diverse background spanning local government, public policy/law reform, and media. For the past eight years she has been working for the judicial branch of government and is currently Director of Te Tari Toko I Te Tumu Whakawā, The Office of the Chief Justice.
Her 20-year career as a journalist culminated in the editorship of the Sunday Star Times (2003 – 2008).
Following this she was recruited by Sir Geoffrey Palmer to join New Zealand’s independent law reform agency, the Law Commission. Te Aka Matua o te Ture, as a Senior Research and Policy Adviser. During her five years in that role, she was involved in several high-profile law reform projects including; the reform of the law of contempt and the legal and regulatory response to digital media and convergence. The latter project resulted in the enactment of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015.
She left the Law Commission in 2013 to take up a role as Chief of Staff for former Labour MP, the Hon Lianne Dalziel, after her election as Mayor of Christchurch.
Cate divides her time between Õtautahi Christchurch where her family is based and her working life in Pōneke, Wellington.
