[citation needed] When Warren Freer, the Minister of Trade and Industry in the Third Labour Government, wanted a woman rather than the men proposed by the department for appointment to the Price Tribunal in 1973, Hercus was recommended by Tom McGuigan.

Her ability impressed Freer, so he later appointed her to the Commerce Commission and his successor Lance Adams-Schneider made her the deputy chairman.

[4] On 3 November 1984 Hercus was assaulted after speaking to a women's forum at Hagley High School hall by Hikurangi Nihoniho, a 50 year old driver.

[5] Hercus did not stand for re-election in the 1987 election, and was succeeded in her Lyttelton seat by the Labour candidate Peter Simpson.

[16] She resigned this position in December 2004, following her decision as a member of the Board's Remuneration Committee to decline to support the majority decision of this committee and subsequently the Board that “they would reluctantly have to concur"[17] with the 50% increase in salary to $800,000 offered by CEO Ian Fraser to newsreader Judy Bailey.

The day this resignation was announced on 14 December 2005, was coincidentally within hours of former CEO Ian Fraser appearing before a Parliamentary Inquiry into Television New Zealand Ltd by Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee.

[20] The University's School of Music and Department of Classics has moved 8 years later into the heritage Chemistry Building at the Arts Centre.