John Banks (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
John Archibald Banks, CNZM
QSO
(born 2 December 1946) is a New Zealand politician. He served as Mayor of Auckland City
for two terms, from 2001 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2010. He was a member of Parliament for the National Party
from 1981 to 1999 and was a Cabinet
Minister from 1990 to 1996.
In 2010, Banks lost the mayoralty race for the newly formed Auckland Council
to Len Brown
, the serving mayor of Manukau City.
In May 2011, he joined ACT New Zealand and was elected as the sole MP for the party in the Epsom Electorate in the November 2011 election.
, moved to Auckland
while still at high school. His father, Archie spent much of his life in prison, a fact Banks does not try to hide, going as far as to mention his father's prison experiences in his criticism of the style of the proposed Mount Eden Prisons
building.
In his career before entering politics, Banks worked as a market research
er in the pharmaceutical industry
, as a commercial property developer, and as a restaurant owner. He served for a time as Chairman of the New Zealand Licensed Restaurant and Cabaret Association.
Banks began his political career in local-body politics with election to the Birkenhead
Borough Council.
, Banks stood as the National Party
candidate for the Roskill electorate, but was unsuccessful. In the 1981 election
, he stood in a different seat, Whangarei
, and won. He would retain this seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career with the National Party.
, Banks entered Cabinet, becoming Minister of Police, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Sport. He quickly gained a high public profile due to his controversial views, most of which reflected a highly conservative political outlook. His political opponents accused him of racism towards Māori and immigrants, and of homophobia
. Despite this, Banks earned the respect of the Police force and senior police hierarchy as "one of their own". Banks also had a troubled relationship with some of his political colleagues, who were concerned over his allegedly confrontational style. Banks sometimes clashed with Prime Minister Jim Bolger
and other senior ministers.
While Minister of Police, he was fined $750 for answering his cell phone on a commercial flight in 1991.
Banks gained a position as the host of a talkback radio programme on Radio Pacific
in August 1992, taking over the Sunday afternoon timeslot from former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon
, for whom he had occasionally substituted during 1991 and 1992. In 1995, his fellow National Party Member of Parliament John Carter
rang his programme impersonating a workshy Māori called Hone, which caused widespread offence.
In 1996, he resigned from Cabinet, becoming a backbencher
after he refused to participate in the same cabinet as New Zealand First
leader and coalition partner Winston Peters
.
Banks retired from Parliament at the 1999 elections
.
mayoralty, defeating the incumbent Christine Fletcher
(herself also a former National MP). Banks remained controversial in his new role, although often regarding financial and management issues rather than social policy. He governed with the support of the traditional incumbent ticket at Auckland City, Citizens and Ratepayers Now
. Banks brought in a streamlined decision making process at council, kept spending increases within inflation, sold half of the Auckland International Airport
shares to pay off Auckland City's increasing debt and proposed massive transport projects such as the Eastern Transport Corridor
. Banks' personal style, coupled with his mayoral agenda, polarised many Aucklanders. In 2001 he was caught speeding on a jet ski close to the beach, not long after criticising boy racers.
He also said Asian immigrants had filthy habits such as spitting on footpaths.
A serious challenge to his mayoralty came from philanthropic cereal-maker Dick Hubbard
in late August 2004. Six weeks out from the next election, a New Zealand Herald public opinion poll gave Hubbard 32.2 per cent and Banks 27.3 per cent, with Christine Fletcher
trailing by a wide gap.
The campaign gained notoriety as one of the "nastiest" and hardest-fought in memory. In September 2004, Banks's campaign manager, Brian Nicolle, resigned amidst allegations of "gutter politics" after he ordered distribution of copies of a National Business Review
article highly critical of Hubbard to hundreds of letterboxes in Auckland, and then proceeded to deny it. Nicolle eventually confirmed he ordered the article distribution. This was done without the authorisation of Banks as the candidate, which helped make the story even more controversial during the campaign.
The New Zealand Herald poll's pattern held for most of the campaign as the postal votes came in. On 9 October 2004, Hubbard defeated "Banksie" in his bid to be re-elected as Mayor of Auckland. At the same time, the city also elected a centre-left council, dominated by the City Vision and Action Hobson
councillors. In early interviews after his election loss, Banks stated that he would look after his varied business interests, both in New Zealand and Australia.
In February 2005, Banks returned to talkback radio reprising his "Breakfast with Banksie" early morning radio show on Radio Pacific
.
In July 2007 Banks announced his intention to stand for Mayor in the October 2007 local body election, running on a platform of "affordable progress" and transparency in council meetings. Polls soon showed him in a clear lead. Banks campaigned heavily on platforms of affordable progess, plus openness and accountability, particularly in regard to Auckland City's leaky homes crisis
.
On 13 October 2007, Banks was re-elected as mayor of Auckland, becoming only the second Mayor in Auckland City's history to have come back to the Mayoralty after defeat, the other being Dove-Myer Robinson
in 1968.
Banks has also campaigned on job creation and economic development initiatives, such as a film friendly policy for Auckland, to attract television, movie and commercial filming. The benefits of the film industry was reported as almost $900 million in GDP activity for Auckland region.
His personality, especially during his first mayoral term, has been called that of a bully, "raised by Sir Robert Muldoon
in the ways of the bear pit". However, it has been commented that his leadership style became much less brusque and confrontative in his second term, something he himself ascribes to the "long, cold shower" he received in being defeated by political newcomer Dick Hubbard
in the 2004 elections.
recommended and the Government confirmed it would introduce a single council for the Auckland region
, Banks confirmed he would stand in the 2010 Auckland mayoral election for the new Auckland Council
. Banks has been critical of some of the aspects of the new supercity, favouring increased powers to the local boards that would represent people at the grassroots level. Banks was the second highest polling mayoral candidate, but was beaten by Len Brown
by more than 10% of the electoral vote share.
for the party in the 2011 general election
. He was confirmed as the party's candidate on 28 May.
In November 2011, a recording of a conversation held between Banks and John Key
was leaked to Herald On Sunday. 3 News
also obtained copies of the recording suggesting the two politicians were discussing issues related to ACT New Zealand's leadership.
, with his wife Amanda Medcalf who he married in December 1987. They adopted three children from a Saint Petersburg
orphanage in 1995, a girl and two boys. He holds a private pilot's licence, for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Banks presently has a number business interests, including the healthfoods sector, is also a director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd
, a Kiwisaver
provider, and a trans-Tasman business consultancy called "Sugar international".
In addition to his pilot's license, Banks also is an avid motorcar and motorcycle enthusiast, owning and regularly riding a Harley Davidson motorbike.
He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to local body affairs.
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New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
QSO
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 2 December 1946) is a New Zealand politician. He served as Mayor of Auckland City
Mayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
for two terms, from 2001 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2010. He was a member of Parliament for the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
from 1981 to 1999 and was a Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
Minister from 1990 to 1996.
In 2010, Banks lost the mayoralty race for the newly formed Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
to Len Brown
Len Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
, the serving mayor of Manukau City.
In May 2011, he joined ACT New Zealand and was elected as the sole MP for the party in the Epsom Electorate in the November 2011 election.
Before politics
Banks, born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, moved to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
while still at high school. His father, Archie spent much of his life in prison, a fact Banks does not try to hide, going as far as to mention his father's prison experiences in his criticism of the style of the proposed Mount Eden Prisons
Mount Eden Prisons
Mount Eden Prisons refers to two New Zealand prisons, located in Lauder Road in the Central Auckland suburb of Mt Eden. They are:* Mount Eden Prison, which holds about 420 sentenced male prisoners...
building.
In his career before entering politics, Banks worked as a market research
Market research
Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy...
er in the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, as a commercial property developer, and as a restaurant owner. He served for a time as Chairman of the New Zealand Licensed Restaurant and Cabaret Association.
Banks began his political career in local-body politics with election to the Birkenhead
Birkenhead, New Zealand
Birkenhead is a suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour, four kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
Borough Council.
Member of Parliament
In the 1978 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1978
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, although the opposition Labour Party managed to win the largest share of the vote...
, Banks stood as the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
candidate for the Roskill electorate, but was unsuccessful. In the 1981 election
New Zealand general election, 1981
The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 40th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of...
, he stood in a different seat, Whangarei
Whangarei (New Zealand electorate)
rightWhangarei is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.National Party MP Phil Heatley has held it since 2008.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Whangarei* Hikurangi* Ruakaka...
, and won. He would retain this seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career with the National Party.
Cabinet minister
When National won the 1990 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, Banks entered Cabinet, becoming Minister of Police, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Sport. He quickly gained a high public profile due to his controversial views, most of which reflected a highly conservative political outlook. His political opponents accused him of racism towards Māori and immigrants, and of homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
. Despite this, Banks earned the respect of the Police force and senior police hierarchy as "one of their own". Banks also had a troubled relationship with some of his political colleagues, who were concerned over his allegedly confrontational style. Banks sometimes clashed with Prime Minister Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
and other senior ministers.
While Minister of Police, he was fined $750 for answering his cell phone on a commercial flight in 1991.
Banks gained a position as the host of a talkback radio programme on Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
in August 1992, taking over the Sunday afternoon timeslot from former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
, for whom he had occasionally substituted during 1991 and 1992. In 1995, his fellow National Party Member of Parliament John Carter
John Carter (New Zealand)
John McGregor Carter is a New Zealand politician, and member of the National Party. He represented the Bay of Islands, Far North and Northland electorates from 1987 until June 2011...
rang his programme impersonating a workshy Māori called Hone, which caused widespread offence.
In 1996, he resigned from Cabinet, becoming a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
after he refused to participate in the same cabinet as New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
leader and coalition partner Winston Peters
Winston Peters
Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
.
Banks retired from Parliament at the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
.
Return to Parliament
In 2011 he won the seat of Epsom for the ACT party becoming the sole MP for the party.First term 2001–2004
In 2001, he contested and won the Auckland CityAuckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
mayoralty, defeating the incumbent Christine Fletcher
Christine Fletcher
Christine Fletcher, QSO is an Auckland Council councillor and also prominent for her former New Zealand politics positions, both in Parliament and as Mayor of Auckland City. She was the second woman to serve as mayor of Auckland...
(herself also a former National MP). Banks remained controversial in his new role, although often regarding financial and management issues rather than social policy. He governed with the support of the traditional incumbent ticket at Auckland City, Citizens and Ratepayers Now
Citizens and Ratepayers Now
Citizens & Ratepayers is an established right-leaning local body ticket in Auckland, New Zealand. The Citizens and Ratepayers Association was formed in 1937 with a view to control the Auckland City Council and prevent the left-leaning Labour Party from control...
. Banks brought in a streamlined decision making process at council, kept spending increases within inflation, sold half of the Auckland International Airport
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a year, expected to more than double by 2025...
shares to pay off Auckland City's increasing debt and proposed massive transport projects such as the Eastern Transport Corridor
Eastern Transport Corridor
The Eastern Transport Corridor in Auckland, New Zealand, is a transport reserve along a strip of land and water some of which is occupied by housing, commerce, industry and local roads...
. Banks' personal style, coupled with his mayoral agenda, polarised many Aucklanders. In 2001 he was caught speeding on a jet ski close to the beach, not long after criticising boy racers.
He also said Asian immigrants had filthy habits such as spitting on footpaths.
A serious challenge to his mayoralty came from philanthropic cereal-maker Dick Hubbard
Dick Hubbard
Richard "Dick" John Hubbard ONZM, DSc is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and principal of Hubbards Foods in Auckland, and Mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for its participation in and promotion of socially...
in late August 2004. Six weeks out from the next election, a New Zealand Herald public opinion poll gave Hubbard 32.2 per cent and Banks 27.3 per cent, with Christine Fletcher
Christine Fletcher
Christine Fletcher, QSO is an Auckland Council councillor and also prominent for her former New Zealand politics positions, both in Parliament and as Mayor of Auckland City. She was the second woman to serve as mayor of Auckland...
trailing by a wide gap.
The campaign gained notoriety as one of the "nastiest" and hardest-fought in memory. In September 2004, Banks's campaign manager, Brian Nicolle, resigned amidst allegations of "gutter politics" after he ordered distribution of copies of a National Business Review
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
article highly critical of Hubbard to hundreds of letterboxes in Auckland, and then proceeded to deny it. Nicolle eventually confirmed he ordered the article distribution. This was done without the authorisation of Banks as the candidate, which helped make the story even more controversial during the campaign.
The New Zealand Herald poll's pattern held for most of the campaign as the postal votes came in. On 9 October 2004, Hubbard defeated "Banksie" in his bid to be re-elected as Mayor of Auckland. At the same time, the city also elected a centre-left council, dominated by the City Vision and Action Hobson
Action Hobson
Action Hobson were a centrist council ticket in the Hobson Ward of Auckland City, New Zealand. They were formed to combat the proposed Eastern Transport Corridor by then Mayor of Auckland City, John Banks , and his supporting Citizens and Ratepayers Now bloc.-History:In the October 2004 election,...
councillors. In early interviews after his election loss, Banks stated that he would look after his varied business interests, both in New Zealand and Australia.
Post 2004 election
For a time, rumours suggested that he might return to national politics, standing as a candidate either for the National Party or for ACT New Zealand. Speculation eventually focused on ACT, and several meetings took place between Banks and senior party members. In the end, however, Banks declined to become an ACT candidate, despite indications that he could win a seat for the ailing party that would guarantee them representation.In February 2005, Banks returned to talkback radio reprising his "Breakfast with Banksie" early morning radio show on Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
.
Re-election in 2007
In October 2006, Banks announced he was giving serious consideration to standing for the Auckland Mayoralty again. He indicated that if he did become Mayor again, he would practise a more inclusive style of leadership with a firmer focus on financial matters. He has indicated qualified support for the proposed 2007 "Hero Parade", which was an annual gay parade held in the 1990s prior to his becoming Mayor. Banks ditched the controversial Eastern Corridor proposal that caused a split in his voting base.In July 2007 Banks announced his intention to stand for Mayor in the October 2007 local body election, running on a platform of "affordable progress" and transparency in council meetings. Polls soon showed him in a clear lead. Banks campaigned heavily on platforms of affordable progess, plus openness and accountability, particularly in regard to Auckland City's leaky homes crisis
Leaky homes crisis
The leaky homes crisis is an ongoing construction and legal crisis in New Zealand, in which many thousands of newly constructed houses and apartment buildings built in the 1990s and early 2000s suffered from severe weathertightness problems...
.
On 13 October 2007, Banks was re-elected as mayor of Auckland, becoming only the second Mayor in Auckland City's history to have come back to the Mayoralty after defeat, the other being Dove-Myer Robinson
Dove-Myer Robinson
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office....
in 1968.
Second Mayoral term 2007–2010
Upon his successful re-election, Banks indicated a number of initial changes and spending cuts in order to meet his goal of keeping future rates increases at affordable levels. Banks and the Citizens and Ratepayers council majority re-introduced a streamlined council structure, bringing in five super-committees instead of the previous 14 committees.Banks has also campaigned on job creation and economic development initiatives, such as a film friendly policy for Auckland, to attract television, movie and commercial filming. The benefits of the film industry was reported as almost $900 million in GDP activity for Auckland region.
His personality, especially during his first mayoral term, has been called that of a bully, "raised by Sir Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
in the ways of the bear pit". However, it has been commented that his leadership style became much less brusque and confrontative in his second term, something he himself ascribes to the "long, cold shower" he received in being defeated by political newcomer Dick Hubbard
Dick Hubbard
Richard "Dick" John Hubbard ONZM, DSc is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and principal of Hubbards Foods in Auckland, and Mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for its participation in and promotion of socially...
in the 2004 elections.
Auckland Council
Banks supported pushing for a unitary authority or a "supercity" from 2001. After the Royal Commission on Auckland GovernanceRoyal Commission on Auckland Governance
The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance was established by the New Zealand Government to investigate the local government arrangements of Auckland....
recommended and the Government confirmed it would introduce a single council for the Auckland region
Auckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
, Banks confirmed he would stand in the 2010 Auckland mayoral election for the new Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
. Banks has been critical of some of the aspects of the new supercity, favouring increased powers to the local boards that would represent people at the grassroots level. Banks was the second highest polling mayoral candidate, but was beaten by Len Brown
Len Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
by more than 10% of the electoral vote share.
Return to national politics
On 18 May 2011 Banks joined ACT New Zealand and applied to contest the Epsom electorateEpsom (New Zealand electorate)
Epsom is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Epsom is Rodney Hide MP of the ACT Party. He has held this position since 2005.-Population centres:...
for the party in the 2011 general election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
. He was confirmed as the party's candidate on 28 May.
In November 2011, a recording of a conversation held between Banks and John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
was leaked to Herald On Sunday. 3 News
3 News
3 News is the television, internet and radio news service of New Zealand's TV3. Its flagship bulletin, which airs every evening at 6:00pm, is anchored by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Carolyn Robinson and Simon Shepherd are weekend and substitute anchors...
also obtained copies of the recording suggesting the two politicians were discussing issues related to ACT New Zealand's leadership.
Private life
Banks lives in RemueraRemuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
, with his wife Amanda Medcalf who he married in December 1987. They adopted three children from a Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
orphanage in 1995, a girl and two boys. He holds a private pilot's licence, for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Banks presently has a number business interests, including the healthfoods sector, is also a director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd
Huljich brothers
The Huljich brothers: Christopher Peter "Chris" Huljich , Paul Richard Huljich and Michael Huljich are Auckland manufacturers, merchants, entrepreneurs, rentiers and philanthropists.-Background:...
, a Kiwisaver
KiwiSaver
The KiwiSaver scheme is a New Zealand voluntary long-term savings scheme which came into operation from Monday, 2 July 2007. The main purpose of the KiwiSaver fund is for retirement savings....
provider, and a trans-Tasman business consultancy called "Sugar international".
In addition to his pilot's license, Banks also is an avid motorcar and motorcycle enthusiast, owning and regularly riding a Harley Davidson motorbike.
He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to local body affairs.
Biographies
- Paul GoldsmithPaul Goldsmith (politician)Paul Goldsmith is a New Zealand politician and, since the , a list member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the National Party.-Early life:...
: John Banks: A Biography: Auckland: Penguin: 2001: (Updated. Originally published 1997): ISBN 0-14-301819-1 - Noel Harrison: Banks: Behind the Mask: Wellington: Estate of Lyndsay Rae Gammon: 2002: ISBN 0-476-00990-1
External links
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