Pat (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) was born in Opunake and lives in Waitara. She has four children and 16 mokopuna. Pat did her nursing training at Barrett Street Hospital, graduating in 1968. She moved away from Taranaki and worked in various nursing roles including theatre, bureau, palliative care, public health and practice. Returning to Taranaki she worked at Te Puni Kōkiri before establishing Piki Te Ora Nursing Services, which later merged with Tui Ora. Pat completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science (nursing) and is currently working as a district nurse in Mokau and Tamariki ora nurse for Tui Ora.
Pat’s governance experience includes chair of Manukorihi Hapū, Manukorihi Paa Reserve Trust, Te Whare Punanga Korero, Te Kowhatu Tu Moana and Te Tai Pari Trusts and the Taranaki Hospice Inc. Society.