Born in Palmerston North[1] in 1976, Bond was born into a presumably abusive family, and was put into foster care a total of five times. She stated in her maiden speech, "Although the world was shocked by the movie Once Were Warriors, I was living it",[2] indicating an abusive upbringing. Bond attended Highbury Primary School (now known as Somerset Crescent School) and Queen Elizabeth College. She has two children,[3] is half-Scottish and half-Māori (of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent), and is the great-niece of Sir James Hēnare, the commanding officer of the Māori Battalion by the end of World War II.[4]
Hairdressing and national boards
Bond was a hairdresser in Invercargill and served as president of the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers, representing 8,000 owners and operators (2006–2012).[5][6][7][8] She also had a dual role as a director on the Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation, which included being a New Zealand Qualifications Authority governance and advisory panel member.[8]
On 15 April 2019, Bond announced her candidacy for the 2019 Invercargill mayoral election.[15] However her registration 15 minutes before the deadline was rejected because the correct address of one of her nominators was not on the electoral roll.[16] On 22 July 2022, she announced her candidacy for the 2022 Invercargill mayoral election.[17] She was unsuccessful in the mayoral election but did win a seat on the city council.[18]
^Jones, Nicholas (23 May 2011). "Hair horror as salon visit goes bad". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2015. Ria Bond, the president of the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers, had recently heard of a similar chemical straightening incident at another salon.