[1] A lawyer, she spent six years as managing solicitor at Te Ratonga Ture / Māori Legal Services.
[3] Prior to the 2008 general election, Katene initially missed out on the Māori Party candidacy for Te Tai Tonga to Monte Ohia.
[8] The bill gathered support although Labour leader Phil Goff favoured a simpler exemption on just fruit and vegetables.
[12] In early 2013 Katene put her hat in the ring to replace retiring co-leader Tariana Turia who had announced she would step down before the 2014 General election.
[14] Katene has also been working for the New Zealand Māori Council as a spokeswomen, supporting its legal challenge to the sale into mixed ownership of Crown-owned assets.