Former UN man flies Labour flag in local seat

The Labour Party’s recently selected candidate for North Shore has moved into the electorate, keen to familiarise himself with local issues ahead of the election this year.

And George Hampton believes his international experience at the United Nations, as a senior adviser with a focus on sustainable energy helping combat climate change, also has direct relevance to the challenges residents face here.

“People have told me they are anxious when it rains now,” he said.

Climate change was one of his motivators for getting into politics, along with equity issues. “Events this year have shown us how close we are to the tipping point.”

Hampton and his wife have relocated to Bayswater, with their four-month-old daughter, and are looking to buy locally.

Raised in Christchurch, Hampton has some family pedigree on the North Shore: his grandmother lived in Devonport for 50 years, on Queen’s Pde, he said.

His mother, Jennie, lived in Takapuna in the 1970s and started a local kindergarten.

Despite spending much of the last decade overseas, Hampton sees his future in New Zealand.

The 41-year-old former diplomat and Fulbright scholar, who spent time as a teaching fellow at Colombia University and also studied at Harvard, is something of a high-flyer to be running in a seat long viewed as safe for National. His selection was uncontested.

Hampton is also a co-owner of the Mr Whippy franchise in New Zealand.

Before being posted to Vienna, then New York, he spent time as a policy adviser to Helen Clark in the run-up to the 2008 election.

He also worked on her unsuccessful bid in 2016 to become United Nations Secretary-General.

He has other Labour Party connections, including through his aunt Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, a former Minister of Pacific Island Affairs.

Politics and social issues were on the menu for dinner-table conversation growing up as one of seven siblings, he said.

His father is prominent Christchurch defence lawyer Nigel Hampton KC and his mother worked in his father’s law practice.

“Mum and Dad always showed people compassion,” he said.

Although sitting National Party MP Simon Watts holds a comfortable 3734-vote majority, Hampton points out that Labour won the party vote in the seat.

His aim, he says, is to “give people who had a good long look at Labour last time a chance to do so again”.

Hampton said he is in politics for the long haul.

“We as a country are going to face a huge number of challenges in the next 20 years. I want to be part of a party that deals with that in a positive and optimistic way.”

Events for the community – Please feel welcome to join in.

Sat June 3, 10, 17 - Community Tree Planting & Picnics with Restoring Takarunga Hauraki. 11am-1pm

Sat June 24 – Matariki Festival – Bayswater School, 3pm-7pm

Sat July 1 - Lantern Making - Devonport Community House 12pm to 5pm. Please RSVP on our Event page at www.dpt.nz

Sat July 1 – Depot Matariki Art and Workshop Exhibition 2pm-4pm

Sat July 1 - Hikoi to Takarunga, 5pm to 8pm. Please RSVP on our Event page at www.dpt.nz

Sat July 8 - Lantern Making - Navy Museum, Torpedo Bay 1pm to 5pm

Sat July 8 - Hikoi to Maungauika - Assemble at Navy Museum 5pm-8pm.

Thurs July 6 – Matariki Workshops for Tamariki with Whaea Terehia 4pm-6pm Te Whare Toi, Kerr Street, Devonport

Thurs July 13 – Matariki Workshops for Tamariki with Whaea Terehia 4pm – 6pm - Te Whare Toi, Kerr Street, Devonport

Fri July 14 – Matariki Public Holiday – New Zealand/Auckland Youth Symphonic Winds band - Devonport Ferry Terminal at 11am

Sat July 15 - Peninsula Schools Kapa Haka RopuDevonport Ferry Terminal – 11am – 1pm

Sat July 15 – Hangi, 2.30pm-4.00pm (limited numbers, two per whãnau) Please order with terehia@rth.org.nz

DEVONPORT PENINSULA JUNE / JULY 2023

Sat July 15 - Community Matariki Gathering at Windsor Reserve and Night Market at Devonport Ferry Terminal, 5pm-8pm with Market and food trucks open from 4pm.

Sat July 22 – Matariki Tamariki – Whãnau Fun Day, Devonport Community house 1pm-4pm.

Sun July 23 – Rose Centre Hãkari Matariki – Rose Centre, Belmont. Hangi (limited numbers) at 12pm.

Fri July 28 - Artist Panel Talk - artist to deliver a 1hour talk regarding their practices and the Matariki exhibition ‘Ahuru Mowai’ – 6.30pm-7.30pm

Sat July 29 – Beginners Weaving Workshop – 11am-1pm with Kiriana O’Connell at The Depot Artspace

Sat July 29 – Mãori Medicine & Rongoa Workshop –11am-1pm with Judy Henderson at The Depot Artspace