John Minto has been a secondary school teacher most of his working life and has worked in a variety of Auckland schools. He wrote a weekly column for the Christchurch Press from 2006 to 2010 and is now a regular blogger.

John is well known for his social causes advocacy. He worked full time for the anti-apartheid movement from 1980 to 1985, as National Organiser and then National Chairperson of HART (Halt All Racist Tours). This period included helping organise and run campaigns against sporting ties with South Africa such as the 1981 Springbok tour to New Zealand.

He is presently a spokesperson for Global Peace and Justice Auckland, which supports a wide range of public action in support of human rights and liberation for people around the world.

John is married with two boys and lives in Auckland.