From Auckland’s commercial sector to working with the homeless, farming in the islands to assisting in alternative education programmes, Simon has a lot of varied experiences. Up till selection, he was a Contracts Manager for Southern Cross Health Society negotiating agreements with hospitals and specialists around the country. Prior to this, he worked in several roles within the Ministry of Social Development.

Simon has an extensive background in volunteer and community organisations, having spent several years training to become a Catholic priest. Though he completed his training, he did not seek ordination. Instead, he sought wider involvement in the community to make a practical, hands-on difference. He has worked in such environments as prisons, homeless shelters, drop-in centres, and schools. He has also travelled overseas providing community education and vocational training, as well as offering care in rest homes and hospitals.

Simon is 35, and was raised in Whangarei. He came to Auckland in 1994 to begin his university studies. Auckland has remained his home ever since, apart from his two years working in Fiji and a year spent in the United States. He has completed four degrees at the University of Auckland, most recently a Master of Arts in Political Theory with First Class Honours.

Simon is the head of Monarchy New Zealand, a nationwide constitutional lobby group, and is a frequent media commentator on constitutional and monarchical issues in New Zealand. He has been active within the National Party, holding numerous offices, and was a list candidate in 2008.

He is a keen fencer, motorcyclist, runner, and supporter of the arts.

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.

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