MEDIA RELEASE
31 MAY 2006

Family First announces its Board of Reference

The Family First Lobby, which is aiming to bring a strong pro-family pro-life and pro-moral value message to the media and public debate, has announced its Board of Reference.

It includes well known family names including ex TV1 weatherman Jim Hickey and his wife Sue, ex All Black and now coach of Manu Samoa Michael Jones and his wife Maliena, and former What Now! TV host Anthony Samuels and his wife Shannon.

The Board includes family members of all kinds - mums, dads, parents, grandparents and step parents. The cultural make-up includes Maori, NZ European, Tongan, Samoan and South African. They are business, church and community leaders working in various professions including the Police, legal, medical, financial, mental health areas and, last but definitely not least, stay-home mums and dads.

They represent the face of NZ families, who all desire to see a strong voice for family issues in the media and in policy making in New Zealand.

The Family First Lobby is headed by National Director Bob McCoskrie who comes from a background of accountancy, lecturing, social working in South Auckland and more recently the media. Other spokespeople include Stephen Tetley-Jones, a businessman who has been involved in the media, and Alexis Stuart who is a writer, researcher, and is currently completing a Law Degree. They are parents who know the concerns of families, and the issues affecting families and children today.

Family First was established at the beginning of April 2006. It has had extensive coverage already on radio, TV1 News, TV3’s 60 Minutes, and a number of major newspapers.

BOARD OF REFERENCE

Dr Mary DALY and Chris MARTIN

Mary is a GP practicing in South Auckland. Chris is a stay-home dad with a background in boatbuilding and tutoring in Marine Technology at Unitec NZ. They are both heavily involved in pre-marriage education. They have 4 children.

Jim and Sue HICKEY

Jim is well known to all NZ’ers as the TV1 “Weatherman” – retired! He is now based in New Plymouth heading up Rustic Road Productions with his wife Sue. They have 4 children.

Stu and Chris HIGHT

Chris is a psychotherapist and Director of the Kumeu Therapy Centre, and pioneer of NZ’s first web-based online counseling service. She is also a radio commentator and is involved with the NZ Christian Counselors Association. Stu is a Baptist Pastor, and has also been involved in farming, youthwork, and is on several boards of community based groups. They have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Michael and Maliena JONES

Michael is an ex-All Black, now coach of Manu Samoa, and Director of Pacific Advancement at the Auckland University of Technology. Maliena is a full-time mum. They have 2 children.

Tony and Kay JURGELEIT

Tony is a part-owner of a substantial apparel company Fountain Apparel, is a past member of the NZ Society of Accountants and also serves on the Boards of a number of companies including Hammer Auctions and Kiwi Self-Store.
Kay is a Dental Therapist and has recently completed her degree in Education and History. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Andrew and Shereen L’ALMONT

Andrew is CEO of Mortgage Express Ltd, Director/Shareholder of Harcourts Financial Services (Aust.), Fellow of the Australian Institute of Banking and Finance, and a member of New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association. Shereen is a trained dental assistant, fitness instructor, and Administrator with Rhema Broadcasting Group. Andrew has 2 children.

Brent and Jo MITCHELL

Brent is founder / Company Director of Mitchell Homes Group. His homes have won Gold Awards every year for 5 years in the House of the Year Awards. Jo is a part-time administrator and full-time mum. They have 3 children.

Anthony and Shannon SAMUELS

Anthony is well known to the younger generation as a past presenter of TVNZ’s What Now! programme for 10 years, and is now a freelance Director and businessman. Shannon is a trained physiotherapist and full-time mum. They have 3 children.

Maurice and Mai TETLEY-JONES

Maurice is a lawyer / senior partner in the legal firm Tetley Jones Thom Sexton. He is also Chairman of the Board of Parisian group of Companies, and Consultant Director of Isthmus Group Ltd Urban Designers and Landscape architects. He and Mai have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Nick and Vasa TUITASI

Nick has served with the NZ Police for the past 25 years, has worked in the area of youth at risk, and set up a programme in 1993 which became the blueprint for 45 Police projects nationwide working with at-risk youth and their families. In 1998 Nick was awarded the QSM for Services to the Community. He is a much sought after speaker and motivator. Vasa is a part-time administrator and full-time mum. They have 3 daughters.

Rev Tavake and Heu TUPOU

Tavake is a Tongan community and church leader, broadcaster, and much sought after conference speaker. They have 4 children and have lost count of the number of grandchildren!

ENDS

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