In her youth, she intended to become a Presbyterian minister[2] but instead studied English literature and comparative religion at Victoria University of Wellington, receiving a BA (Hons) in 1976.

[5] She succeeded Margaret Wilson and Ruth Dyson as the third female Labour Party president; all three would together serve as Members of Parliament between 2005 and 2008.

Street's term as president included the 1993 general election and subsequent Labour leadership change from Mike Moore to Helen Clark.

[8] In 1990, Street was appointed senior lecturer in management relations and director of labour studies at Auckland University.

[13] In May 2005, she was selected to contest the National Party stronghold of Taranaki-King Country, which she lost to the incumbent Shane Ardern in the September election.

It is the very differences between people, working together peacefully and with respect for each other, that allow a society to remain strong and cohesive.”[10] As a first-term MP with previous political experience, Street was immediately marked as a future minister.

[5][6] She was regarded as a competent minister by columnist John Armstrong[18] and progressed legislation intended to improve affordable housing availability and to support pensioners to access vocational rehabilitation schemes.

[19][20] In the 2008 and 2011 general elections, Street contested the Nelson electorate, where she was defeated by National Party incumbent Nick Smith.

[31] Street worked as an international observer of general elections across Africa and Asia, mostly on behalf of the Commonwealth, with a focus on human rights and good governance.

[32][33][34][35] After leaving Parliament, Street continued to maintain a high profile as a campaigner for euthanasia, other human rights causes and employment relations.