John is a Cook Islander, born in Rarotonga. He has worked as a print and television journalist in New Zealand for over 25 years. A former reporter on the 'Tagata Pasifika' television programme, which focuses on the Pacific Islands community in New Zealand and in the islands, he is currently the show's News Editor. John is on AUTs Pacific Media Centre advisory committee and is a founding member of the Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA) and is the co-author of Patterns Of The Past: Tattoo Revival In The Cook Islands.