After completing a zoology degree at Massey University, Steven started his first radio station, Energy FM, in his home town of New Plymouth at age 21. Along with two business partners, he built up RadioWorks over 17 years until, as a listed public company, it consisted of 22 local radio stations and four national radio networks with 650 staff in 20 branches around New Zealand. Along the way he developed nationwide music brands The Edge and The Rock. In 2000, RadioWorks was purchased by Canadian company Canwest. Steven retired as Managing Director in April 2001 on his 38th birthday.
Steven was elected as a list MP in 2008 and was appointed directly to Cabinet as Minister of Transport, Minister of ICT and Associate Minister of Finance. Major projects in his first term included setting up the Roads of National Significance, the Ultra-fast and Rural Broadband projects.
In 2013 he took on responsibility for Novopay, was also made Minister of Regulatory Reform.
He leads the Government’s Business Growth Agenda.
