3. What keeps you in the role?
"First and foremost it is working with a wide range of individuals and agencies and knowing that collectively we are making a difference in people's lives. It is continually refreshing to work with colleagues who are passionate about what they do, and positive about the impact they are having in the community."
4. How does this role effect your personal/family life?
"The role is part-time, and as a contractor I have always worked from home. I tend not to carry the stresses of work into my home life but having said that, we are quick to celebrate when things are going well."
5. Tell us a little about your family. Do you have any children? Pets?
"I have four grown-up kids, two girls and twin boys, three stepsons, and two granddaughters, aged 8 years and just three months. Annika Lane and I were married three years ago. I proposed to her in an advertisement in this newspaper. Two years ago we moved to a lifestyle block in Whakamarama where we have three horses, three chickens, two cats and a pig named Portia."
6. What is your favourite recipe for unwinding?
"I love cooking, entertaining, and enjoying a glass or two of my son's wines from Man O'War on Waiheke Island (he bribed me to say that). I love football and coach the Otumoetai College Girls' 2nd XI. They are an amazing group of girls (they also bribed me to say that). Annika and I have been doing pilates for years with Nataalia at Jan Poulson Physio in Otumoetai. It is brilliant (and yes, they bribed me to say that, too)."
7. On 7pm any given weekday, what will catch you watching on TV?
"I love MySky. At 7pm we will usually be found with 3 News while preparing dinner. Other favourites are Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Orphan Black and when I get hold of the remote I catch English and Champions League football, Chiefs, Warriors, and just about anything sports."
8. What do you consider to be the Western Bay's best kept secret?
"TWIF - Thank Whaka its Friday. A monthly get-together on the third Friday from 5.30pm in the Whaka Hall (and they didn't have to bribe me to say that)."
9. Out of anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would you most like to spend lunch with and why?
"Gordon Ramsay. I always thought he was a bit nasty, but I have been totally captivated by his Ultimate Cookery Course that I recorded late last year. His genuine passion for food comes through and I have found the series to be inspirational. Come for dinner some time and you will see the results."
10. What is the last album you listened to?
"I subscribe to Spotify. The last music I listened to was a playlist, Lounge, Breakbeat, Downtempo, Smooth Jazz, Trip Hop, featuring artists such as Everything But The Girl, Zero 7, Portishead, Morcheeba, Massive Attack, Groove Amada, Bjork, Sade, Tracey Thorn, and much, much more."
