Chris Hipkins

We were teenage boys, you know, boys...

Teenage brothers always fight.

And she would always ask the question of us, how would you feel if he did that to you?

And so you kind of grow up with that sense that you should always think about if this was the other way around, how would I feel about that?

And so in all of life's challenges and situations, I'm always asking myself that question.

If this was the other way around, how would I feel about it?

It didn't happen consciously, really.

It kind of happened a bit by accident.

I mean, I didn't even know about politics until towards the end of my time at secondary school.

I just had no idea really what the world of politics was all about.

And met my local MP, Trevor Mallard, who subsequently became my boss further down the track.

And I kind of got a little bit interested in politics and then went to university.

my um out of secondary school by the time i'd done with secondary school i didn't want to do any more education i just didn't want to be engaged in education at all and so i went off and i got a job working for quality bakers over the summer holiday stacking bread in the supermarket and i actually really enjoyed that because it was it was hard work you know like you'd be really tired at the end of the day it was it was good and i enjoyed i got to interact with people and i really enjoyed that

But my parents were determined, you know, that I needed to do some more education.

So I went to university, not quite sure what to expect.

And I just kind of found my groove there.

I really enjoyed it.

I hadn't been a very good secondary school student.

So my first year at university was a bit patchy.

You know, my grades weren't that good and everything.