About Amy
Amy Adams has lived in Selwyn electorate for 16 years. She moved to Christchurch from Auckland as a teenager to attend Canterbury University, and never went back.
Amy graduated from Canterbury University in 1992 with first class honors and starting at the bottom of the legal ladder worked her way up until she was a commercial law partner in a well-known Christchurch law firm Mortlock McCormack - a role she gave up when she was chosen as the National candidate.
Married to Don, they run a 600 acre sheep and crop farm in Aylesbury, mid-Canterbury. They have two children who are the sixth generation of the family to live in the area.
Amy has played a number of roles in the community, including until selection chair of a rural primary school board of trustees. The quality of the New Zealand education system is something she is very interested in.
In her professional life she has run her own business and worked with many other Canterbury businesses and individuals, doing everything from commercial and property law to resource management and lobbying.
"I know the struggles businesses face dealing with nightmares such as the RMA and the massive burden of compliance costs."
Amy also has the background to be able to represent the interests of the rural sector.
"Being an active partner in our farming business, I've come to truly understand the issues farmers and exporters deal with every day in a way that you have to live to really appreciate."
"Some days I’d be at home on the farm cooking for the shearers, rousying in the shed or running ewes through the foot rot trough, while the next day I’d be at the office helping clients with their business and regulatory issues or helping older people protect their retirement savings."
The experience of living in both town and country has given Amy a wealth of experience in the real life struggles of Selwyn people working hard to get ahead.
"I’ve worked in the community with families dealing with the hard times the primary sector is facing. And I know what it’s like being at home with small kids worrying about the bills."
My vision for New Zealand
"I believe in the New Zealand that National stands for; a country of innovative world-leaders... where our focus is on helping families get a foothold on the ladder of success - not encouraging them to sit at home in front of TV. A country where children are treasured - not left home alone.
I believe in support business by lifting the oppressive fog of crippling costs, ridiculous regulations and bungling bureaucracy - allowing them to flourish.I believe in rebuilding the strong, safe communities of our parent’s days, where everyone looked out for each other and it is normal for kids to walk to school.
I believe that if we want to make a difference we simply have to start by getting serious about supporting families. That means:
- Stopping family violence
- Supporting working parents
- Providing wide ranging childcare options for families
- Encouraging parents as first teachers
- Getting serious about truancy
- Making parents take a degree of responsibility for the actions of their kids."
To view my maiden speech to Parliament click here
