Ben Clark - “Labour’s man for North Shore”
Ben Clark is the energetic Labour candidate for the North Shore electorate. The North Shore electorate boundaries just about mirror the home distribution areas for Channel Magazine. You have to give Ben Clark top marks for organisation. He has a great website (www.benforshore.co.nz), is a blogger and is also very active on both Facebook and Twitter. It certainly wasn’t hard to find some background information on him. He’s a born and bred Aucklander, has been living in the Devonport area since 2007, when he and his English wife Joanna (who he met on his travels) returned to New Zealand to live. They now have two pre-school children. Channel Magazine’s Aidan Bennett put some questions to him for ‘The Channel Grill’ during August.
AIDAN BENNETT: What made you come to the North Shore?
BEN CLARK: Initially work - a job doing Artificial Intelligence and Animation programming for a Games company in Takapuna. We immediately loved it here - the fantastic beaches, relaxed lifestyle and it’s a fabulous place to bring up kids. I now work in Onehunga, but there’s no way we’re leaving the Shore.
AB: Tell us a bit about your background. Born and bred in Auckland, University at Otago, then into Computers?
BC: Yes, I started out at Right Hemisphere in Auckland, then headed off on my OE to Britain. Met my lovely wife, got into computer game programming, and eventually wanted to head back home to raise kids. Very happily ended up in sunny Devonport with two lovely young daughters.
AB: Did you enjoy Dunedin?
BC: Yes, it’s a fabulous place to be a student.
AB: You obviously spent a few years overseas on your OE. What were the highlights?
BC: Meeting my wife! Travelling around the UK and Europe was superb. On our way home we spent five months travelling through Southern and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and a good chunk of the former USSR. First in our wee Renault Clio, then by train. The Clio struck difficulties at the top of Chunuk Bair (Gallipoli) – we had to be towed across the Dardenelles to a very friendly and brilliant garage that got us on our way. That will long be a happy memory.
AB: Best country you’ve visited?
BC: Three favourites: Kazakhstan for sheer difference; Turkey for the lovely people; and Slovenia – it’s countryside is beautiful in a way that’s very similar to New Zealand.
AB: What do you do now. Still in computers?
BC: Yes, it’s not currently Computer Games, but I now program the control software for fruit sorting machines at Compac Sorting Equipment. They’re an excellent example of a New Zealand company using our know-how and creativity to develop high-tech products that are exported around the world.
AB: Why politics?
BC: I’ve always been interested in community and making New Zealand the best it can be. Politics is a big part of doing that.
AB: You’ve got a tough battle on your hands taking on Maggie?
BC: The North Shore certainly isn’t the reddest electorate in the country! That said, I feel that I have a lot to offer in terms of my high-tech industry experience and focus on local interests. For instance Wayne Mapp’s cutting of navy jobs will be terrible for the community of Devonport, and he’ll be leaving under a cloud of National planning to sell naval land against community wishes. Just like when he arrived in parliament with National trying to sell Fort Takapuna.
AB: I heard you play a mean Sax? What are your other interests?
BC: I’m an interclub squash player for Belmont Racquets Club. Beyond that, my daughters and slowly renovating our house take up most of my time. But I enjoy camping, tramping and travel when I can. We also have a vege patch that’s great with the kids.
AB: Is Phil Goff a good bloke?
BC: Phil Goff’s a great bloke – incredibly hard working, down-to-earth and very intelligent. And a good bloke to have a beer with too.
AB: Has he given you a good spot on the List?
BC: As a first time candidate I’m focusing on getting the support of my electorate. I’m all about the North Shore and want the mandate to represent my community.
AB: What made you choose Labour?
BC: I’m a liberal, and I’ve always been very community-oriented, so Labour’s values fit me very well.
AB: Happy with the John Key government? (LOL!)
BC: No! Their unsustainable tax-cuts have taken us from no net debt to a budget blow-out. Now they are cutting needed services from vulnerable people and flogging off our assets to make up for it. And don’t get me started on their cuts to Early Childhood Education...
AB: Super City working?
BC: Len Brown seems to be doing a good job from very difficult circumstances. And the Local Board seem to be doing a good job consulting with the community. It would be working better if the government got behind Aucklander’s plans for the city.
AB: What do you love about the Shore?
BC: The people, the beaches, the cafes, the community.
AB: Why should North Shore people vote for Ben Clark and Labour?
BC: Vote Labour for a government that will balance the books and make sure that all New Zealanders get the chance to aspire to and achieve their potential. Vote for me if you want someone local and competent to best serve your interests.
AB: Any parting words of wisdom for our readers?
BC: Make sure that you’re enrolled, and make sure you vote on November 26. You can’t complain if you don’t vote.
Doing what I love doing
