No law against loving your job

Langley Twigg lawyer John Matthews has only had one job since leaving university 50 years ago.
He was once a student labourer at the Port of Napier - now he is their legal adviser next door in Ahuriri.
He had fewer advantages than some of his contemporaries.
"Having grown up with a widowed mother in a state house in Napier, I figured I had to earn some money," he said.
His mother had "scrimped and saved" to send him to the new school of Lindisfarne, where he was a foundation pupil.
"There were only 33 students the first year. I'm very proud of it now, it has developed into one of the best schools anywhere."
And he has maintained old friendships.
"Some of the original guys still get together once a year."
One of his proudest school moments happened recently when he was presented with an Honours Tie.
"Having the whole school do the haka for you on a wooden floor is, as Justice Brown said, pretty damn impressive."
He said his disadvantaged start in life made him determined to succeed.
"When I was leaving high school I had three choices: journalism, film or university. I looked at what was available at university and at what the successful professions were. I decided a doctor looked too difficult - the next best paid seemed to be a lawyer."
He wasn't afraid of hard graft during the summer breaks working at the Tomoana freezing works, on the Wattie's canning line and as a "seagull" at the Port of Napier.
"Having worked in tough jobs it helped me enormously later in my career - to understand both sides of the coin."
More than a few coins have come his way, but not as many as if he had left his home town.
"As a provincial [lawyer] you don't make a fortune, not nearly as much as people think but it is a good lifestyle. If you want to make major money you go to one of the major cities and you get burned out by my age."
The Langley Twigg partner is an authority in environmental Resource Management Law - not surprising with half a century's experience under his robes. He holds an accredited commissioner's chair for resource management hearings.
He is a fan of the Resource Management Act. "I think it is an excellent Act and in general it works well, but it is better now that the processes have been streamlined."
At 71 his light burns brighter than most. He has many outside interests; he's a sailor, a life member of Mahia Fishing Club and has participated in more than 100 productions with Napier Operatic Society.
His 12 grandchildren and wife keep him young. "My wife is a lot younger than me and is a geriatrician - I always tell people I'm future proofing myself."
His wife's mother is Dame Alison Holst.
"Alison is exactly like you see on television, absolutely charming - like her daughter. She's a lovely mother-in-law."
Because of his commitment to his law firm and because his wife's career is at its height, he undertakes a serious commute each week.
"Last year I sold my house on Napier Hill and I have got a flat down in Kennedy Rd. My wife is senior physician at Palmerston North Hospital. We are building a house down there and I travel to Hawke's Bay for my working days. I've been doing that for five years."
He is comfortable that he made the right career choice, still finding law interesting. "I genuinely like people and I like the challenge of being a lawyer. I like the law as a concept. I like the processes. And it impacts on every person at some stage - a fascinating part of living."