Real Life with John Cowan

Growing up in a state house in Invercargill with a solo mum and two brothers, life was tough. In his teen years, he received an AFS financial hardship scholarship and had the opportunity to live in Germany. He realised then, what a special place New Zealand was.

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Justin first visited Wellington on a provincial football trip when he was a kid. After completing an LLB and BA (German) at Otago and a Masters of Law at the University of Heidelberg in Germany he co-founded Kapai, a Wellington food enterprise. He has always had an interest in politics and was elected mayor of Wellington last week.

Justin is married to Liz and they have two daughters and live in Wellington.