MITCH (CALVIN) MITCHELL

Born: Putaruru, 1985 Education: Putaruru West Primary, Putaruru High, Rotorua Boy’ High (two years); NZ Army, Max Fitness College, Auckland

Family: Daughter Anya, 8, son Austin, 6

Iwi Affiliations: Tainui, Nga¯ti Raukawa,

Interests: Wha¯nau, health and fitness, hunting, trout fishing “My son gets heaps more than me.”

Personal regret: “Failing to get into the SAS. I’m colour blind, gunfire’s deafened one ear.”

On Rotorua: “It has a proud tradition of soldiers, warriors.”

On the military: “An unfortunate but necessary fact.”

Awards nominations: Gym and book finalists in next month’s Fitness NZ awards

Personal philosophy: “Hard times don’t last, hard men do.”