Paul grew up in Northland and has a Degree in Archaeology and a Diploma in Business from Otago University. He has called Wellington home for the past eight years.

Paul's candidacy follows a seven year career in New Zealand’s diplomatic service - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). He returned in 2010 from an overseas posting to Tehran as Deputy Head of Mission, taking a role as MFAT's youngest Deputy Director.

Paul's background in the civil service and experience in promoting New Zealand companies and products overseas give him an ideal mix of business and public sector experience for Wellington Central's unique economy.  

Top 5 Issues

1. Building a stronger economy
   • Balance the books sooner.
   • Borrow less so we can have lower interest rates for longer.
   • Keep personal taxes lower to encourage hard work.
   • Make New Zealand more competitive so our exporters can sell more overseas and create more real jobs.
   • Encourage savings and investments.
   • Use the mixed-Ownership model to fund infrastructure to help us grow faster.
   • Invest in skills training and tertiary education that gets results.
2. Building world-class infrastructure
   • Ultra-fast broadband for greater innovation.
   • More, and better, roads to ease congestion.
   • Investing in more rail and public transport.
3. Building a safer New Zealand
   • Staying strong on crime – tougher sentencing, stronger bail laws, and a focus on victims.
   • Keep working to lower the crime rate further so our families are safer.
   • Making our roads safer, so we can keep the road toll lower.
4. Rebuilding Christchurch
   • $5.5 billion recovery fund
   • Re-establishing essential infrastructure
   • More construction-related training
5. Building better public services
   • Better Schools – identifying and helping children falling behind, school reports in plain English.
   • World-class healthcare –more doctors and nurses, more operations, shorter waiting times.
   • Effective welfare- more people back into work, more incentives to work, payment cards for teens on benefits.

Personal Profile

Of English, Scots and Maori descent, Paul is interested in heritage preservation and environmental issues. Aside from politics, his other hobbies include genealogy, social media, cooking and enjoying Wellington’s magnificent harbour.