Born and bred in Auckland, I have been living on the Devonport peninsula since I moved back to New Zealand with my English wife, Joanna, in 2007 - and I'm loving being a Shore boy. Since our return Joanna and I started our family, and we're finding that Devonport is every bit as good place to bring up children as we'd hoped.

I'm proud to stand for Labour where I live as I want to share Labour's values of community and fairness with those around me. I want to make sure New Zealand is on a sustainable course - socially, environmentally and financially.

Issues of inequality in supposedly egalitarian New Zealand particularly concern me. We must make sure that not only the better off are better off. We can't have two New Zealands, where the majority are left behind. Amongst other research, The Spirit Level is a useful guide to how countries do better - financially and socially - if all in society get to benefit from the country's wealth.

The importance of early childhood on people's life chances is also a focus. I've been greatly impressed by the research of Prof Richie Poulton and his team at Otago University, and can see the need for quality Early Childhood Education that is available and affordable to all.

As both these examples show, I'm keen on evidence-based policy. I have blogged about both issues and evidence-based policy in general on arguably New Zealand's most popular political blog, The Standard, where I'm an author.

Locally, I've been concerned about the effects of the civilianisation of the Navy on Devonport, as well as the housing issues raised by the Defence White Paper. I'd also like to see North Shore people get the extra harbour crossing they need to be able to get to work.

These and other issues are why I'm keen to work for the people of the North Shore in parliament.

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