Introductory ramble to save you Googling me

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 pm, November 29th, 2017 - 24 comments
Categories: labour, Left, liberalism - Tags: , ,

Hi.

I’m Enzo (yes that’s my real name) and I write for The Standard now.

Just thought I should introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my background – so hopefully it doesn’t become A THING.

No, I have not defended war criminals in Rwanda, secretly taped staff members in an electorate office, claimed a benefit I’m not entitled to, given a speech anywhere near Orewa, nor had dinner with anyone from Oravida.

It’s worse than any of that.

I work for a union. GASP!

In fact, (I might as well rip the whole band aid off in one go) I have been working for unions for almost thirteen years – first for the EPMU and, since 2010, for the Tertiary Education Union. Sorry not sorry.

Needless to say, any opinions I will express here are not necessarily those of my employer. Sometimes they might be and other times they may not. But most of the time that will be irrelevant because, partly to be on the safe side and partly because I don’t really want to think too much about work in my spare time, I won’t be writing about tertiary education or industrial relations on this site.

Long before I started working for unions I was a Labour Party activist. I joined Labour in 1998 in the Northcote electorate, where I campaigned for Ann Hartley. Then in around 2006 my wife and I purchased a house in West Auckland, where I volunteered for Lynne Pillay and was campaign manager for Carmel Sepuloni in THAT electorate contest that we lost by nine votes after a judicial recount. Bummer.

I also had a three year stint as Auckland/Northland Regional Chair in there somewhere too.

I describe my politics as social democratic and socially liberal.

I voted for David Cunliffe and Andrew Little in the two leadership elections that members got a vote in – and you can feel free to remind me of that if I ever start taking myself too seriously around here.

After a bit of a break from Labour in recent times, I’m easing myself back in a little bit while trying not to get sucked too far back into the machine – I’ve done my share of doorknocking, phoning, leafleting and the like, and that of one or two others as well, for the time being.

But maybe instead of those things I can make a contribution here – pontificating about the world from a lefty perspective. The proof of that will be in the tasting of course.

Aside from politics, I have an unhealthy obsession with football and a little organisation called A.S. Roma. I have a football blog that I have been building up over the past few years – to the point where I was named ‘Community/Internet Writer of the Year’ in last year’s New Zealand Football Media Awards.

ITBOTN will remain my number one focus so I may not be as prolific on here as some others but I will chip in when I feel I can add something useful.

Apart from that, my other interests include letting MickySavage beat me at golf on a semi-regular basis and walking in the Waitakere Ranges (while we still can).

I’m an Aquarius, my favourite food is pasta and my favourite colour is crimson.

Now you know everything you need to know – I think.

You’ll hear more from me soon.

24 comments on “Introductory ramble to save you Googling me ”

  1. mickysavage 1

    Ciao Enzo welcome to the collective …

  2. Zorb6 2

    You don’t drive a Ferrari,by any chance?

  3. mary_a 3

    Hey Enzo, nice to meet you, albeit through digital media.

    You look vaguely familiar to me. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but were you on a protest about three, maybe four years ago in Auckland, marching up Queen St with a megaphone chanting “John Key is a … ??? Could have been “fraud.” Sorry can’t remember the rest of it, but it made the protest that much more enjoyable, stating the truth about the greatest hoax forced on NZ in recent times.

    However, if it wasn’t you, it doesn’t matter, because I’m sure we will be having some very colourful posts from you we can look forward to and enjoy. Cheers.

    • Enzo 3.1

      Ha, I’ve been on a few protests over the years but I don’t remember yelling anything into a megaphone apart from union chants on pickets. I wouldn’t rule it out though! There is someone else in the movement who some people consider to be my doppelgänger though so it may have been him.

  4. lprent 4

    Have fun Enzo.

    Now this football – I have to say that I love its oval shape….

  5. Cinny 5

    Hey there Enzo, nice to meet you 🙂 Looking forward to your posts. Cinny

  6. Reality 6

    You have an attractive writing style so look forward to your posts.

  7. Ad 7

    Are you the guy that was doing the Dante critiques?

  8. Bugsolutely 8

    Have you tried my cricket pasta. Be happy to send you a box.

  9. Ad 9

    Good to have another proper westie Labour person writing here.

  10. r0b 10

    Welcome Enzo. Have fun with it!

  11. tc 11

    Forza giallorossi ! Travelling along nicely in Serie A and the CL as we prepare for the turn and run in.

    • Enzo 11.1

      Fratello mio! Could have done with out that idiotic draw with Genoa last outing but beat Qarabag next week and it will be a very happy Christmas indeed!

      • tc 11.1.1

        Yes as a Rojoblanco man I wish you good luck as we’re gone not being able to beat the men from Azerbaijan home or away.

        I am hoping for a bounce with the Rossoneri though after Montella’s dismissal as it’s been awhile.

  12. John Palethorpe 12

    Shocking tapping up of our bold and brave ITBOTN editor/boss/capo/godfather figure by The Standard here. Will be taking this to a tribunal.

    Good luck Enzo.

  13. Richard Christie 13

    .No, I have not defended war criminals in Rwanda ….

    (facepalm)

    You’ve included that as the first of a short list of unethical practices.

    Why?

    • Incognito 13.1

      He lets MickySavage beat him at golf; that’s at least two highly questionable behaviours there 😉

  14. Your introductory article seems to have been edited. Where’s the bit about the clubs that you hate with fervour, as I was told last night.

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