I went to school and grew up here, attending Matua Primary as a foundation student, Otumoetai Intermediate and Otumoetai College. I was a long serving member of Southern Cross Cubs and Sea Scouts, sailed the wonderful P Class yachts in the inner harbour, played junior rugby for Cadets, and trained in Martial Arts under Lin Hooker above Smiths Scooter House as a junior, and Stephen Kitson at the Boys High in my older teen years and as an adult.

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A little-known fact is that, before attending the University of Waikato, I served an engineering apprenticeship at Edwards Engineering. I recall working on Sanford’s fleet of fishing vessels with men who demanded performance at every turn; great early experience for a young man.