Prior to entering Parliament, Dan served as an officer in the New Zealand Defence Force. Based in Waimakariri for the past two decades, he brings a lifetime of frontline public service, leadership, and practical problem-solving to the work of building stronger communities.

Dan began his career as a mechanic in the New Zealand Army, working on the workshop floor and learning the value of teamwork, discipline, and hard work. Through further study and experience, he progressed through the ranks into a range of leadership roles. When Dan retired from the NZDF earlier this year, he was serving at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand, where he was responsible for planning and managing defence operations, joint exercises, and contingencies across the Indo-Pacific.

His service includes deployments to Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands, as well as providing joint-level support to New Zealand’s contribution to the United Nations Command in South Korea. At home, he helped support responses to major emergencies including the Kaikōura earthquake and adverse weather events across Canterbury. These experiences reinforced his belief that strong communities and well-resourced public institutions are essential to keeping people safe.

Dan holds a Master of Strategic Studies from Victoria University of Wellington and is a graduate of the NZDF Advanced Command and Staff College.

He has Samoan aiga lineage through his grandmother and was raised in Wellington before making Waimakariri home.

Dan is passionate about backing working people, strengthening communities, and ensuring government works for everyone.