New National MP for Helensville Chris Penk. Photo / Derek Cheng
NAME: Chris Penk
PARTY: National
AGE: 37
MP for Helensville
OCCUPATION: Former navy officer and lawyer
What has surprised you about being in Parliament?
I've been surprised by the pace of the institution. So much happens so quickly, you've just got to react. Partly, that's stuff going on in the house and there's a lot
of procedure to learn there. But also just things going on. There's always something happening, always someone coming and going. And adjusting to that is quite a big change. A very busy pace.
What issue would you like to address in a private member's bill?
I have a couple of ideas. One is in the ballot already, a tidy up of the Companies Act. One I'm passionate about and that relates well to my electorate of Helensville is around safety for horse riders. On the roads, having better clarity about what's possible for drivers to give them a safe berth and not behave in a way that will startle horses in a way that could cause injury and death. With Auckland getting closer to those areas, there are more people, people drive further on the roads, so there is a bit of a collision of the worlds, so there needs to be greater awareness and education, but as a law change as well, it's something I'm keen to progress.
Name a politician you admire - not from your own party.
David Shearer - he was a good guy and always regarded as such and acted in a very decent way.
Tell us about your upbringing and your family? Would anything surprise us?
I'm one of five boys. I'm number two in the pecking order. I suppose that's a bit unusual. Raised in West Auckland, went to all the local state schools and had a good education - very grateful for the opportunities I had - and went to University and got into the workforce from there. More or less a standard Kiwi upbringing.
Do you get to boss your other siblings - three, four and five - around?
They probably have a different view on that, but I'm the one being interviewed, so let's say 'yes'.
Would you like to see more te reo spoken in New Zealand?
Definitely. And I think most people would - I know not all, but most people would. The discussions seems to be around how that's achieved and whether that's something as a matter of compulsion, or something that we allow people to come to in a more organic way. What's the role of the formal education system? And I'm still yet to form a strong view on what the best way to achieve that is.
On a personal note, I would like to be more fluent in te reo, and I say more fluent - I'm not fluent at all yet. But it's something that would be nice to look at.
Are you learning te reo?
Not in any formal way, but you get quite a lot of exposure, so just in a learn-by-osmosis - picking up a bit as I go along.
What is your view on the euthanasia bill?
We've got to look very carefully at the way vulnerable might be affected, people who are seeking for very genuine reasons that they have that choice need to be considered with great care and compassion, but so too do other categories of people who will be affected by it in a way that's not necessarily obvious, but in a way that might make them feel as though they are a burden, and now that there would be a choice to end their life prematurely, that they could and should take that. I'm very cautious in that regard. I voted against it.
Is there a growing urban-rural divide in New Zealand and, if so, what's the cause?
People in the more urban or suburban areas do generally recognise that agriculture's been a huge part of our economy, and it would be foolish to throw out the baby with the bathwater in terms of policies that might adversely affect that, whether that's in the climate change space or in relation to reducing irrigation or capping the number of cows, for example. And similarly, people in the rural parts generally recognise a lot of important stuff that goes on in the towns and that townies make other important contributions.
Overall there's not a divide, except there is potential for it if people in the political realm are keen to talk it up for their own particular purposes. It's something we should be a bit wary about.
Has it been a political football, or even a political creation?
Yes. I don't think that's necessarily a matter of bad faith on any side, but I think that's at least been an unintended consequence of some of the discussion. For example in relation to water quality, there's been a lot of focus on so-called dirty dairying, and yet a lot of urban waterways - an actually beaches as well - that are the coast of otherwise urban areas, some are pretty shamefully badly ... trying to use a euphemism in relation to the sewage, but let's say there's some serious cleaning up that could be done all around the country.
What will you be doing to unwind this summer and where?
I'll be in West Auckland, down in the Waitakere Ranges end of the Helensville electorate. It'll be nice to be there rather than in Wellington, because you spend a lot of time down here in the capital. It will be good to get back home and spend time with family and friends, and also to get out and about and do the great things one can do in the Helensville electorate - strawberry picking great beaches, brilliant walks in bush and forest.
There are strawberry farms you can go and pick your town. It's a good summer time activity - take the family along.
Do you have a view on the kauri dieback?
It's something I've taken a very close interest in. If the expert scientific advice is that we are in danger of losing such an iconic and ecologically important species, then we should proceed with great caution. We should take the option that would close tracks that were high or medium risk of spreading the disease further. We've got to be pretty careful, without unduly restricting access. It would be a shame if people miss out on the opportunity in the meantime to be aware of these wonderful parts of our natural environment.
Is that something that's close to your heart? Do you spend time in the Waitakeres?
I've always lived in and around the foothills of the Waitakeres. Grew up in Glen Eden, which is where we are now. I've spent time overseas some way away from the Waitakere Ranges, but generally it's been a backdrop to my life, physically in the background and something I'm very conscious of. Native vegetation is a huge part its character. It would be very sad to see it reduced with the threat of Kauri dieback.
Tell us about a favourite beach, river or other special family place you had holidays.
We used to go up to Whangaparoa and spend a lot of time at the beach there, listening to cricket in the background. That was a time when Whangaparoa was very much out of Auckland. It felt like driving for an hour seemed like a long trip, getting out of town and getting away. Splashing out at the beach and cricket at the beach.
Is there a particular beach you would go to?
Mostly Okoromai, somewhat out towards the end of the peninsula.
Are you a bit of a cricket nut?
I love cricket. I used to play a lot. I used to coach for a while, always listen and watch when I can. In the parliamentary office, I've got the TV which has Parliament TV available. It's also got Sky Sport and when there's test match cricket on, I'm not going to say which prevails. Let's just say that there's opportunities to keep an eye on all kinds of important goings-ons.
If you needed someone to bat so your life depended on it, who would you choose between Ross Taylor, Martin Crowe, and Kane Williamson?
Gee. Funny you should ask about all three - all even on the test century front. I'm going to make my decision purely on the basis on who I think will be the first member of club 18 (18 test match centuries).
Obviously Martin Crowe, RIP. But Kane and Ross have so much more to offer. Kane is obviously younger, but Ross is in a new wonderful phase, and post-eye operation, and he's just absolutely nailing it. So I'll put my money there. You heard it here first.