Rose represented the Rodney constituency in the Auckland Regional Council. She chaired the council's transport and urban development committee, the top transport decision making body of the council. In her position, she worked for a more sustainable transport system, favouring projects like a reintroduction of trams to the Auckland waterfront, improved efficiency in public transport such as bus services and the construction of a walk and cycleway over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. She has also in the past spoken out against the creation of an independent traffic entity apart from the future Auckland "Supercity" Council, believing a unit integrated into the normal Council structure would be preferable. She believed that the "corporate" model proposed does not fit the needs of Auckland - and that from her own experience of the problematic relationship between the Auckland Regional Council collecting the rates, and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority having responsibility for operational matters, she similar issues would occur in the case of an Auckland-wide body. She has however, expressed support for the "Supercity" concept in general, and declared that she would contest the Rodney seat in the Auckland Council. Rose lost this election to former Rodney mayor Penny Webster. Rose is also a marine conservationist. She has led regional and national campaigns to protect the critically endangered Maui's and Hector's dolphins from human induced threats, particularly set-nets, and pollution. Rose has also been a campaigner to protect whales and their habitat. She is a supporter of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and Greenpeace. Rose stood in the Rodney electorate for Labour at the 2011 General election. She stood as a candidate in the 2013 elections, for the post of one of Auckland Council's Waitākere Ward Council seats but failed to be elected despite an endorsement from retiring councillor Sandra Coney. She is a writer, artist, animal rights advocate and social entrepreneur, environmentalist and environmental commentator. Rose has a BA with First Class Honours in politics and philosophy, and has done five years PhD study in Local Government Politics.
