This weeks speaker : Simeon Brown
Simeon is the newly anointed National Party contender for the electorate of Pakuranga. He appears to be the last well dressed man to leave Rotorua, his home town. As he told us, the present retiring MP Maurice Williamson, has held the seat since before he was born some 26 years ago. Currently a resident of Manurewa, 5 doors from his parents, he's shortly moving into the electorate. Qualified as both a Lawyer and in Commerce he's just resigned from BNZ after working in the commercial finance sector.
The process for selection started from 19 potential aspirants which is cut to 5 who are then selectively questioned and "grilled " by the selection committee in both meeting/debate format with the other four finalists and in the more intimate surroundings of the members homes in a question and answer format. The said the hardest campaign he has participated in so far has been to gain his wife's had in marriage. He modestly made the comment a number of times of, "if I get elected", one would expect it will be a hard seat to lose, given the margin the current non-active MP enjoys though he's done next to nothing in the last wee while.
He sees Rotary and his own career path as largely similar, in what he can do for others, service above self. Having been taken to both council and community meetings around his home area by his mother, having seen his interest in current and community affairs. At the age of 14 he became the secretary for the Manurewa residents and rate payers group it was only a group of 10 or so but they appreciated and recognised his enthusiasm and energy. He founded a local group in Clendon "The Friends of the Waterfront" to restore the ares along the foreshore damaged by arsonists and some what neglected by the City Council. The activity of small group has inspired others in the area to join in and to look after the great asset they have there. Initially they picked up around five tonnes or rubbish and the re-planted the whole area. From this he was elected to the local board in 2013 and re-elected in 2016. Part of the on going programme was to ensure that the public areas remained liquor free. Most of the rest of Auckland has only managed to keep 10% of their public areas alcohol free, with his efforts Manurewa has remained 99% alcohol free.
He sees Rotary and his own career path as largely similar, in what he can do for others, service above self. Having been taken to both council and community meetings around his home area by his mother, having seen his interest in current and community affairs. At the age of 14 he became the secretary for the Manurewa residents and rate payers group it was only a group of 10 or so but they appreciated and recognised his enthusiasm and energy. He founded a local group in Clendon "The Friends of the Waterfront" to restore the ares along the foreshore damaged by arsonists and some what neglected by the City Council. The activity of small group has inspired others in the area to join in and to look after the great asset they have there. Initially they picked up around five tonnes or rubbish and the re-planted the whole area. From this he was elected to the local board in 2013 and re-elected in 2016. Part of the on going programme was to ensure that the public areas remained liquor free. Most of the rest of Auckland has only managed to keep 10% of their public areas alcohol free, with his efforts Manurewa has remained 99% alcohol free.
He's worked hard on fostering relationships with both local MP's and Cabinet members. Good relationships have helped him move on to wider community engagement such as monitoring groups looking at the effect on the community of the prisons operating in South Auckland. His efforts to close down and ban the sale of synthetic cannabis especially around schools and in other areas exposed to youth activities, in his own community has now seen the ban stretch nation wide with the law changed accordingly. We are still dealing with the crime and mental health issues created by these drugs.
As a candidate he's keen to see us maintain a safe and supportive community environment. Schools and young people need to be helped and supported. He realises we need to see progress on both the AMETI & Reeves Rd Flyover projects, as the whole community is having to spend too much time in their car's. The Tamaki River needs protection and community interest to preserve the environment around it.
He's keen to support those who work the hardest not those who shout the loudest.
The career path chosen has seen his participation in business at all levels, and brought him in contact with SME's up to large multinationals. Whilst he has enjoyed this greatly it's really politics that is his passion.