A cup of tea with... CHRISTINE RANKIN

Christine Rankin is the deputy mayor of Taupo¯, although she’s better known as the flamboyant former head of WINZ (now Work and Income). Christine, 67, had started out at the government department as a clerk and worked her way up to the top. But her exit was shrouded in controversy after she was accused of extravagant spending and a management style known as transformational leadership, which received mixed feedback.

In 2001, she lost a high-profile Employment Courtcatches up with Christine about family, career and her love of big earrings.