Selwyn Times: February 21, 2018

12 Wednesday February 21 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
Our People Amy Adams
From lamb roast gravy to vying for
Selwyn MP Amy
Adams is vying to
become National’s
next leader. Bridget
Rutherford spoke to
her about why, farm
life, and who she would
poach from Labour
Why did you decide to stand
for the leadership position?
It all came about really quickly.
I wanted Bill English to carry
on. He’s an extraordinary leader
and had done an amazing job
campaigning. I don’t mind
admitting I rang him up and
pretty much begged him to
stay on. But I respected his
decision. When he made his
announcement, I was at home in
bed sick, but I got myself up to
Wellington and started talking
to colleagues and a number of
people rang me up and said: ‘You
need to stand’. My only goal is I
want National to win the 2020
election. When we had John
Key and Bill English, there was
no question in my mind they
were the best choice. I want to
make sure caucus has a range of
options to choose from, so I’m
going to give it everything I’ve
got.
It sent strong message of
support having four other MPs
behind you at the announcement.
I think all the contenders will
have their support in caucus.
Those MPs said they wanted to
be out there with me, and I was
really touched by that.
Why and when did you get
into politics?
I got into politics in 2008. It
was an odd step in some ways
because I hadn’t been political.
I had been a party member for
a couple of years but I wasn’t a
regular. I had an amazing mum
who used to say: ‘If you’re not
happy with something, you
should try do something about
it’. I was frustrated with the
direction the country was going
under Helen Clark and Labour. I
had a young family, so you start
thinking a lot more about what
sort of country they were going
to grow up in and I wanted to
make New Zealand a place they
wanted to base themselves.
How different is it now being
in the opposition party?
I don’t have the responsibility
and the intensity of when I
was carrying six big portfolios.
You don’t have the big box of
papers arrive on Friday nights
that had to be read before going
into Cabinet. But I’m every bit
as busy, it’s just different. We’re
working really hard to hold the
Government to account, but
also work out how we’re going
to take the party into the next
election. As an opposition,
you’re not there to criticise the
Government’s job, although we
will hold them to account, but we
are here to talk to New Zealand
about the vision we have for this
country, and how we’re going to
get it done.
When you were younger
could you ever have imagined
yourself as a politician?
No, 100 per cent not. Mum
kept a baby book and wrote stuff
in it that I had said and done.
When I was four I said I was going
to be a concert violinist and
be in government. I love debating
and I loved arguing, I was a
pretty stroppy and opinionated
child.
How long were you a lawyer
for?
Sixteen years. I grew up in
Auckland. At 17, I packed up
my Honda Civic and drove to
Christchurch to go to law school.
I had a brief stint in Invercargill
when I first left law school, but
I’ve basically always been a
Cantabrian. I moved back to
Christchurch and was doing
a range of work. I mostly did
property and commercial law,
relationship, property Resource
Management Act work and trust
law. It was an interesting transition
because as a lawyer, you
apply the law, and at times I got
frustrated about how the law was
set up. So the chance to change it
was pretty appealing.
Do you have any siblings?
I have a sister. My parents split
and my father remarried so I
have a half-brother and halfsister
who I get on really well
with too.
It’s quite the contrast – Auckland
and a farm in Selwyn. Was
it hard to get used to?
I never saw myself marrying
a farmer. I’ve always been into
animals, I love dogs, I always
say a house is not a home until
there’s a dog in it. I rode horses
a lot when I was younger as well.
But you fall in love with who you
fall in love with. Don and I have
TOP JOB:
Selwyn MP
Amy Adams
wants to
lead National
to win
the 2020
election.
PHOTO:
MARTIN
HUNTER
been married for 22 years and I
can’t imagine anything else now.
In Canterbury you have the best
of both worlds. We’ve moved off
the farm now into West Melton
we still farm it, but you can live
in the country and can be so
close to the city and the airport.
Where did you and Don
meet?
It was at the Firehouse on Colombo
St when I was at uni. I had
gone out with a friend after some
law exams, and Don had been in
town for a farming seminar. We
met up and started talking and
he called me up the next day.
What kind of farm do you
have?
It’s called Montford. It’s a
sheep and crop farm predominantly.
It’s the family farm Don’s
mother grew up on. Farming’s in
his blood, he’s the fifth generation
farmer in the area. It’s near
Aylesbury.
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