15 minutes of fame
This month, The Dominion Post has taken not to the streets but to the phones and internet, to ask people who might not normally feature in the media a series of random questions. Tony Burton is a freelance writer, originally from Britain and now living in Wellington’s Brooklyn suburb. The family kitchen was mid-renovation when lockdown was announced, so they have been making do with a barbecue and a microwave.
You get to buy one thing – no matter what it costs. What do you buy?
An all-expenses paid, round-the-world trip with my family. Last year I travelled round Europe and it reminded me how much of the world I have not seen.
Who was your best teacher (not necessarily in school) and why?
David Heathfield, my economics 1.01 lecturer at Southampton University, United Kingdom. He convinced me economics is the branch of knowledge that might make the biggest improvement in people’s lives. He’s why I became an economist.
Pick a superpower.
Travel back in time. There are so many moments in history I would love to see first-hand.
If you retrained for a different career – to what and why?
Astronaut. What’s not to like about the chance to ‘‘take one giant leap for mankind’’? Sadly. I’m far too old now.
The last time I cried was when . . . ?
I watched a cheesy United States sitcom called Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, in a scene where the heroine talked to her father about his death. What issue do people need to talk about more?
Why do New Zealand’s regions have so little power? It makes government less accountable than it should be.
Could you live without the internet?
Yes. I grew up without a phone in the house and some part of me still misses that bit of distance.
What trait do you most abhor in others? Bullying. It’s not OK.
Would you give up flying to reduce carbon emissions? Elaborate.
No. Seeing the world in all its diversity is too important. By far the best way to reduce emissions is an emissions trading scheme, not picking activities all should give up.
If you got to represent New Zealand at the Olympics (summer or winter), what event would it be? Why?
Procrastination. I know I could win gold!
We’re looking for subjects! We have a list of 100 questions, you pick 10, and give us your answers. Nominate yourself or someone you know (with their consent) by emailing capitalday@dompost. co.nz.