National's reforms of the electricity industry "incensed" David Parker so much that he decided to do something about it.

Indeed, it was one of the reasons behind the Labour list MP's entry into politics in 2002.

Now, as the new Energy Minister, he is in the hot seat with the jury still out - a decade on - on the success of those electricity changes.

National wasted no time in attacking the appointment of a mere second-term MP to the critical energy and transport portfolios as well as Attorney-General.

But Labour is obviously hopeful Parker's experience in the relevant fields of law and business as well as the ability and energy he demonstrated during his first term will give him as good a chance as anyone at getting to grips with the knotty complexities of the power industry.

The Roxburgh-born, Dunedin-raised 45-year-old has been involved in business since an early age through his family's ventures. But he also showed some activist tendencies early on. While completing his commerce and law degrees at Otago University, he co-founded the city's community law centre, which provided the model for similar organisations throughout the country.

Parker said his legal career began with general law before he moved on to court work, including stints as a duty solicitor and in family and environmental law.

After a couple of years overseas, he worked at the Queenstown office of large South Island law firm Anderson Lloyd, specialising in Resource Management Act law. He returned to the firm's Dunedin office to work in civil litigation, eventually becoming a managing partner. After a few years, he resigned from the partnership to pursue business interests but remained with the firm as a consultant until the 2002 election.

Parker's businesses included a successful late-night cafe, a not-so-successful renovation of Dunedin's St James Theatre, work with pioneering biotech venture capitalist Howard Paterson and a burgeoning fund management company.

Parker likes to talk about the character-building experience of the ill-fated theatre venture.

"I always go into that. ... I've always made it clear that I have been an entrepreneur and I have been involved in many, many different ventures, but I've skinned my knees and I have failed."

The "atmospheric" St James was in danger of being bowled for a carpark "so myself and four others, including my wife, bought it ... That was an unmitigated disaster".

Cost overuns, operating losses and management problems meant the venture turned into "a terrible experience". Luckily, he was able to pay a few bills with more law work and other business ventures such as forestry and fund management.