Graduate Certificate in Career Counselling for
Elite Performers (Dance, Music, Sport)
TOPNZ Business Management and Business Communications
Rotorua Lakes High School
Mokoia Intermediate
Lynmore Primary School
Tell us something you remember about
school
I very much enjoyed my school years. The studies
were interesting and stimulating, and I felt I learned
a lot. I especially enjoyed playing with all my friends,
particularly in sport. But I was glad when it was
over for the year.
Occupation
I am currently a career and education advisor for
the elite athletes of the New Zealand Academy of Sport.
I am also interested in education and information
communications technology. I am a company director,
project manager and researcher for Hana Ltd, which
is a publisher and provider of Māori language
education resources. I am the current secretary of
the board of Wellington Region 2020 Communications
Trust.
Read about Simon's previous career as a champion
Olympic
skier(PDF 314 kb)
I dreamt of being a stuntman or something daring.
Ski racing quenched my thirst for thrills.
Who are your inspirational role
models?
Besides my Mum and Dad, another role model that I
believed modelled an all roundedness that I most aspired
to was Duke Kahanamoku – Hawaii’s greatest
Olympic athlete. He was a three times gold medallist
at swimming, as well as a world champion surfer.
What
significant event has influenced your life?
Hopefully it is still a little too early to reveal.
What is your favourite...
· food?
Asian,
Austrian, Māori in no particular order
· music?
I was into new age punk in the 80s, reggae in the
90s, and most everything beyond 2000.
· person/people?
Hospitable, generous, and kind
· movie?
The Matrix
· TV programme?
Newsboy's Eating media lunch
· pastime?
Play, recreation, R&R
Tell us about some of your personal
qualities and attributes.
My team mates would hopefully say I am mature, selflessness,
good natured, responsible, entertaining, patient,
unassuming, and have a good sense of humour.
My coaches would have admired the fact that I was
energetic, hard working, willing, competitive, self-motivated,
modest, an excellent role model, and had excellent
technical skills.
The personal qualities and strengths that helped
me succeed in sport were:
considerable vision
an ability to understand difficult conceptual
points, see their application, and make them my
own
the ability to be successful in demanding conditions
a tremendous commitment to skiing
well-conceived and moderate views
excellent conduct
the desire to be a credit to my country
an enquiring mind
being a hard thinker
being an inspiration
being knowledgeable, worldly, calm, competent
and intelligent.
I believe that to become prominent the type of qualities
and strengths required are: devotion, deep feelings,
delight, suppleness, being quiet and unassuming, and
being upstanding to those whom you bargain with.
What
would be your ideal day?
Climbing to the summit of Ruapehu and skiing back
to the car, then relaxing in thermal waters.
What
is your most embarrassing moment?
Still too early to say.
What are your ambitions?
I am ambitious. I think it is constructive and helpful
to have goals. I want a great lifestyle, good health,
and to be successful in business.
What sparked your interest in following
your particular career path?
I wanted to create more meaning out of my experiences
to date, and to interpret my future experiences through
a values approach. In other words, I desire a rich
and full life.
