Born and raised in Northland, Darleen returned to Aotearoa in 2014 after an OE lasting 17 years in Brussels, Belgium where she worked in corporate telecommunications. Since returning, she and her Danish husband, Christian Hoff-Nielsen, have worked to build their specialist e-mobility company from scratch

Prior to leaving for overseas, Darleen worked for several years as an Environmental Scientist for the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council specialising in waste, hazardous substances, and management of contaminated sites. She has a Bachelors of Chemical Technology degree from Massey University, was a recipient of Rotary Foundation scholarship with which she completed a Masters in Business Administration (Hons.) in Brussels, Belgium. She is also a founding member and Trustee of Electric Island Waiheke whose aim is to achieve energy resilience and electrification of all transport on, to and from Waiheke Island by 2030.

Darleen affiliates to Ngāti Kawa, Ngāti Rāhiri principally and multiple other hapū across Te Tai Tokerau. In addition to Ngāpuhi, she affiliates to Te Ati Awa, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, and Ngāti Porou Iwi. She is notably a descendant of:

• several Rangatira who signed He Whakapūtanga and Te Tiriti ō Waitangi in Waitangi,
• Hannah King-Hansen - the first European who was born in New Zealand (and remained to bear further children),
• Hohepa Kopiri (original name: Joseph Phillips) a whaler/trader who defended the women and children of Otaka Pā in 1832, was adopted into Ngāti Puketapu, Ngāti Tuaho and went on to sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a Rangatira.

She and her husband have four children aged between 17 and 11 yrs old.

Darleen is passionate about mauri and combining business savvy with ecological wisdom to bring a better future forward for all people of Aotearoa.

Please consider supporting Darleen's local campaign by donating here.

Think ahead, Party Vote Green.