Real Life with John Cowan

Margie's parents were Samoan emigrants from Savai'i and Apia, and she grew up in Otara, Auckland. She gained a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington.

Margie has held positions as Deputy Director General in the Ministry of Health, and executive roles at Capital and Coast District Health Board, the Labour Market Policy Group, State Services Commission, and Health Funding Authority. In 2012 she became Director of Population Health and Strategy at the Counties Manukau District Health Board and was appointed chief executive in 2018; the first Samoan to head a District Health Board. She was appointed as chief executive of the interim Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand in December 2021, which came into operation in July 2022. She has also been chair of Presbyterian Support and is on the board of World Vision.

Margie and her husband Riki have two daughters.