Background
Swain was born in Palmerston North on 20 December 1951.
Swain was born in Palmerston North on 20 December 1951.
He attended Saint Patrick"s College in Wellington.
He has obtained a Bachelor from Victoria University of Wellington. Before entering politics, he worked in the social welfare sector, and has also been a bus driver in Wellington. He was Member of Parliament for the seat of Eastern Hutt from the 1990 election until the 1996 election, when the electorate boundaries were changed and it became Rimutaka.
Minister
After the 2005 election, Swain decided not to seek a Cabinet post in the new government.
As of 2009 he was employed by the Crown as their lead negotiator for a settlement of historical grievances with Ngāti Porou.
He is a member of the Labour Party.