During that period he led various community initiatives and won the country's top journalism award: a term at Cambridge University.

[4] After the 2002 election, which he unsuccessfully contested for Labour, he moved to Wellington to run a communications team in the prime minister's office until 2005.

[6] Burns stood twice in the Kaikōura seat for Labour, losing to the National Party candidates Lynda Scott and Colin King in 2002 and 2005.

[9] The bill would reverse the government's replacement of the Canterbury Regional Council with unelected commissioners[10] and force a special election to be held.

[11] In 2011, the election night result for Christchurch Central had a tie between Burns and National's Nicky Wagner on 10,493 votes each.

[13] After his election defeat, Burns returned to Marlborough with the intention to develop a vineyard and work in communications.