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About Me
Background
John came out West at the age of 10 when his parents built a family home in Te Atatu South overlooking the Whau River and the harbour bridge. John had attended Three Kings Primary School but now become a pupil of Freyberg Memorial School and then Rutherford High School.
A school librarian while at High School, John was already involved in community affairs going door to door collecting for the blind and similar organisations, and helping his father in Rotary projects. With a keen interest in motorsport, John joined the Henderson Miniature Motor Racing Club (slot cars) before graduating to the real thing, and competing in motorkhanas, autocrosses, hill climbs and Clubman racing.
A school librarian while at High School, John was already involved in community affairs going door to door collecting for the blind and similar organisations, and helping his father in Rotary projects. With a keen interest in motorsport, John joined the Henderson Miniature Motor Racing Club (slot cars) before graduating to the real thing, and competing in motorkhanas, autocrosses, hill climbs and Clubman racing.
Leadership and governance and getting involved in helping run events was already part of John’s DNA, as secretary of the Henderson Miniature Motor Racing Club, a member of the local Rotaract club, a Rotary Youth Leadership Awardee, and a flag marshal at national motor race meetings. Yachting was another past time, his father owning a boat fitting/manufacturing business in Patiki Road. His constant companion during his teenage years was his dog.
Marriage and family was next on the horizon; John built a family home in Ranui and became involved in Birdwood Primary School as secretary of the local school committee and chair of the fund raising committee. John also helped establish the West Auckland Sunday Market (now Avondale) managing the market for 7 years.
In 1992 he was elected to the Don Buck Primary and Massey High Board of Trustees, taking on the role of Treasurer, then deputy Chair and later Chair of both Boards.
In 1992 he was elected to the Don Buck Primary and Massey High Board of Trustees, taking on the role of Treasurer, then deputy Chair and later Chair of both Boards.
Active in community affairs, John was also on the executive of the Auckland Car Club and back behind the wheel of a rally car by 1998 when he was elected as a Waitakere City Councillor for the Massey Ward, and secretary of the Massey Birdwood Settlers Association, a local resident and ratepayers’ group from 2002.
Defeated in 2001, John stood for the Massey Community Board in 2004 becoming Deputy Chair and following the 2007 local government elections Chair. John continued his involvement with Don Buck Primary and through his community board involvement became involved in Keep Waitakere Beautiful, in 2013 taking on the role of Chair. In 2015 John was elected Chair of Keep NZ Beautiful.
A member of the Rotary club of Waitakere, John is a Health Safety and Environment Manager, Chair of the Local Community Organisation Grant Scheme (Cogs) which distributes money on behalf of the Government to community organisations, on the executive of the Auckland branch of the NZ Institute of Safety Managers and President elect for 2016 to 2017 of his Rotary club.
John has three adult sons, currently one grandchild and lives with his partner in Massey.
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