Maire Leadbeater is a veteran peace and human rights activist and happily retired social worker. In her early years, both her parents were members of the Communist Party and closely watched by the security services. From the age of ten, the SIS kept records of Maire's activities. Her three siblings also came under scrutiny, particularly her brother Keith, a Green Party Member of Parliament for twelve years.Maire was active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for many years, and in the1990s was the spokesperson for the Auckland East Timor Independence Committee. She is currently active in West Papua Action Auckland.