Deon Swiggs
{{short description|New Zealand activist and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{use New Zealand English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Deon Swiggs
|honorific-suffix =
|image = Deon_Swiggs_in_Council_Chamber.jpg
|imagesize =
|alt =
|caption = Swiggs in Christchurch City Council chamber
|order =
|office = Christchurch City Councillor
|
|term_start = 8 October 2016
|term_end = October 2019
|constituency2 = Christchurch West/Ōpuna
|office2 = Environment Canterbury Councillor
|term_start2 = 8 October 2022{{cite web | url=https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2022/preliminary-election-results-released/ | title=Preliminary election results released }}
|predecessor2 = Megan Hands
|alongside2 = Craig Pauling
|honorific_prefix = Councillor
|deputy =
|predecessor = Ward established
|constituency = Central Ward
| successor = Jake Mclellan
|majority =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|9|6}}
|birth_place = Nelson, New Zealand
|death_date =
|death_place =
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname =
|nationality = New Zealand
|party = Labour Party (until 2016)
|spouse =
|relations =
|children =
|residence =
|alma_mater =
|occupation =
|profession =
|religion =
|signature =
|signature_alt=
|website = deonswiggs.com
}}
File:Deon Swiggs at AMI Stadium.jpg
Deon William Swiggs (born 6 September 1986) is a New Zealand politician serving as the Environment Canterbury Councillor representing the Christchurch West/Ōpuna Regional Constituency. He previously served as the Christchurch City Councillor representing the Central ward from 2016 to 2019. Prior to Swiggs being elected, he was most well known for his participation in Rebuild Christchurch, an organisation founded after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.
Early life and up to 2019
File:DeonSwiggsPrinceCharles.jpg
Swiggs was born in Nelson, New Zealand, and is the oldest of three siblings. Until Swiggs was 5, he was raised at Parihaka Pa as a Christian. Swiggs was educated at Marlborough Boys' College where he was a sixth form prefect. After graduating in 2004, Swiggs joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2005 as a navigation officer. Swiggs left the Navy in 2008 to pursue a career in the business sector.{{cite web |last=Swiggs |first=Deon |title=Deon Swiggs: About |url=http://deonswiggs.com/about/ |access-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009203107/http://deonswiggs.com/about/ |archive-date=9 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} In 2008, Swiggs worked as a real estate agent for Harcourts in New Plymouth before transferring to Christchurch in 2009. He left the company in 2010 to form Swiggs Consulting Limited. Later in 2010, Swiggs was offered the position of South Island Accounts Manager at AdzUp.
At the time of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, Swiggs was working for AdzUp, two days later he founded Rebuild Christchurch, which collated information from a variety of sources and placed this information in an easy to understand format. Swiggs has been called one of the innovate new entrepreneurs born out of the Christchurch earthquakes.{{cite news|title=Entrepreneurs emerge from Chch quake|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Entrepreneurs-emerge-from-Chch-quake/tabid/423/articleID/299853/Default.aspx#ixzz2YdpjgSMi|publisher=3news.co.uk|access-date=2 December 2013}} On 22 February 2011, Swiggs was in the AdzUp office located in the Christchurch CBD when the first earthquake struck.{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/new-zealand-earthquake-hard-to-move-on-when-ground-keeps-moving.html |title=New Zealand earthquake: Hard to move on when ground keeps moving |work=Los Angeles Times |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=6 September 2013}}
In April 2011, Swiggs was made redundant from AdzUp due to the earthquakes. From this time, Swiggs worked full-time on RebuildChristchurch.co.nz and studied on the side.{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Entrepreneurs-emerge-from-Chch-quake/tabid/423/articleID/299853/Default.aspx |title=Entrepreneurs emerge from Chch quake – Story – NZ News |publisher=3 News |access-date=1 September 2013}} In 2012, Swiggs was nominated for Young New Zealander of the Year.{{cite web|title=CPIT Student in the Business of Recovery|url=http://www.cpit.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/cpit-student-in-the-business-of-recovery|publisher=Cpit.ac.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}} and was named alongside Roger Sutton and Bob Parker as a leader in the Canterbury Rebuild.
Swiggs was accepted into a placement at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in February 2013 into a Bachelor of Applied Management. In March 2013, Swiggs Graduated from CPIT with Bachelor of Applied Management Majoring in Sales and Marketing {{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8127366/Student-numbers-up-in-line-with-rebuild |title=Student numbers up in line with rebuild – Story – NZ News |publisher=The Press |access-date=11 September 2012}} and Graduate Diploma in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8127366/Student-numbers-up-in-line-with-rebuild |title=Student numbers up in line with rebuild – Story – NZ News |date=28 December 2012 |publisher=The Press |access-date=10 September 2013}} The Press reported on 27 April 2013 that Swiggs was contemplating running for Councillor of the Christchurch City Council.{{cite news|title=The Press Campaigners set their sights on council seats|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8602859/Campaigners-set-their-sights-on-council-seats|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
On 26 August 2013, Swiggs announced he had put his nomination forward for the Christchurch East by-election.{{cite web|author=Rachel Young |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/the-east/9085151/Deon-Swiggs-to-challenge-Dalziel-seat |title=Deon Swiggs To Stand for Dalziel's Christchurch... |date=25 August 2013 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=1 September 2013}} On 22 September 2013 Swiggs found his nomination was unsuccessful. Poto Williams was selected and elected Member of Parliament.{{cite web|title=Poto Williams selected as Labour Christchurch East Candidate|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1309/S00398/poto-williams-selected-as-labour-christchurch-east-candidate.htm|website=Scoop.co.nz|access-date=29 July 2015}}
In July 2015, Swiggs and Christchurch broadcaster Chris Lynch along with award-winning filmmaker Gerard Smyth spent a week interviewing various citizens of Christchurch about their views on the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Act draft transition recovery plan, which expired in April 2016. As of 28 July, the video, When a City Falls, has been watched more than 30,000 times.{{cite web|last1=MEIER|first1=CECILE|title='Huge wave of support' for locally-led recovery|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/70626210/huge-wave-of-support-for-locallyled-recovery|website=The Press |date=28 July 2015|publisher=Fairfax Media}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/when-a-city-falls-2011 |title=When a City Falls |website=NZOnScreen.com |access-date=8 May 2020}}
On 31 May 2016, Swiggs announced that he would stand for Christchurch City Council as an independent in the newly created Christchurch Central ward in the 2016 local body elections. On 8 October 2016, he was elected to the council.{{cite web | url= https://www.ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/How-the-Council-works/2016elections/Christchurch-City-Council-2016-Triennial-Elections-Final-FPP-Result-with-elected-unopposed.pdf | title=Declaration of results | publisher=Christchurch City Council | first=Jo |last=Daly | date=14 October 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/80586937/rebuild-christchurch-founder-deon-swiggs-standing-for-council/ |title=Rebuild Christchurch founder Deon Swiggs standing for council | work=The Press |access-date=31 May 2016}}
Swiggs was a founding trustee on the Canterbury Insurance Advocacy Service funded by council to advocate for people with insurance issues.{{cite web |url=http://canterburyinsuranceadvocacyservice.wordpress.com/who-we-are-2/ |title=Canterbury Insurance Advocacy Service |publisher=Canterburyinsuranceadvocacyservice.wordpress.com |access-date=2 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204003032/http://canterburyinsuranceadvocacyservice.wordpress.com/who-we-are-2/ |archive-date=4 December 2013|url-status=dead}} Swiggs resigned as a trustee on 23 December 2016.{{cite web | url=https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=a22392ea-492a-e311-8f2f-00155d0d1916&searchId=c4e7f78a-d356-4e41-a40d-b1644cf5cfb1 | title=Charities Services | Home }}
In September 2019 Swiggs identified himself as the councillor accused of sending "grossly inappropriate", sexually explicit messages to young people, and made young people feel unsafe and uncomfortable through touching and other comments made at events.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116008780/christchurch-councillor-accused-of-inappropriate-texts-should-come-forward-says-deputy-mayor |title=Christchurch city councillor Deon Swiggs reveals he is under investigation |publisher=Stuff |author=Sam Sherwood and Blair Ensor |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=23 September 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399271/concern-over-time-taken-to-probe-complaints-about-a-councillor |title=Concern over time taken to probe complaints about a councillor |publisher=RNZ |author=Conan Young |date=21 September 2019 |access-date=23 September 2019}} He denied any allegation of misconduct.{{cite web |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399416/christchurch-councillor-accused-of-inappropriate-behaviour-identifies-himself |title=Christchurch councillor accused of inappropriate behaviour identifies himself |publisher=RNZ |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=23 September 2019}}
Screenshots released by Swiggs on 3 October 2019 show some of the messages related to the complaint made by the Canterbury Youth Workers Collective.{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116059766/councillor-deon-swiggs-taking-short-break |last1=Sherwood |first1=Sam |last2=Law |first2=Tina |title=Christchurch City councillor Deon Swiggs taking 'short break' |date=24 September 2019 |website=Stuff |access-date=25 February 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/428500067/Facebook-messages-1#from_embed |last=Swiggs |first=Deon |title=Facebook messages 1 |access-date=25 February 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/428499027/2-Complainant-Two#from_embed |title = 2 Complainant Two |access-date=25 February 2021}} A preliminary investigation revealed that two of the complaints warranted further investigation, while a third complaint was referred to another agency, presumed to be the police.{{Cite news |first=Tina |last=Law | url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/116556753/calls-for-continued-investigation-into-ex-christchurch-councillors-grossly-inappropriate-actions |title = Calls for continued investigation into ex Christchurch councillor's 'grossly inappropriate' actions |access-date=30 January 2020 |date=14 October 2019}} In the 2019 New Zealand local elections, Swiggs was unsuccessful in being re-elected.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/public-notices/show/586 |title=Christchurch City Council 2019 Election Results |date=19 October 2019 |website=Christchurch City Council |access-date=25 February 2021}}
Present
Presently, Swiggs is the chair of The Rebuild Build Christchurch Foundation, director of Rebuild Christchurch and the Councillor-Elect for the Christchurch West/Ōpuna Constituency for Environment Canterbury. Elected in the 2022 New Zealand local elections, he joined Craig Pauling as Councillor for the Christchurch West/Ōpuna Constituency.
Projects
Swiggs has worked on the following projects;
- Project Christmas{{cite news|title=Struggling Families Given A Boost|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8113938/Struggling-families-given-a-boost|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8106760/Bus-makes-special-deliveries|title=Stuff | Bus Makes Special Deliveries|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- Lets Get It Done{{cite news|title=Stuff | Getting it Done|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/6482677/Getting-more-of-it-done|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- Football in the Gap{{cite news|title=Rebuild Christchurch | Football in the Gap|publisher=Rebuild Christchurch|url=http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/blog/2012/10/football-in-the-gap|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- The Canterbury Insurance Assistance Service{{cite news |title=Fairfax|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9140390/Six-seek-Lianne-Dalziels-Labour-spot|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 July 2014}}
- Buck Brings Back Marmite{{cite news|title=Sanitarium | Buck Brings Back Marmite|url=http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/about-us/sanitarium-news/2013/buck-brings-back-marmite|publisher=Sanitarium|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- A Beautiful Struggle{{cite news |title=Newstalk ZB|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbent/1613229383-marmite-photos-make-money-for-christchurch|publisher=Newstalkzb.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- Christchurch Panoramas{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11449319 | title=New pics illustrate change in Christchurch's cityscape |work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68613289/aerial-views-of-christchurch-prove-popular |last=Mathewson |first= Nicole |title=Aerial views of Christchurch prove popular |date=17 May 2015 |website=Stuff |access-date=25 February 2021}}
- Eyes East{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/72351083/CTV-to-debut-doco-series-on-East-Christchurch |title=CTV to debut doco series on East Christchurch |date=23 September 2015 |website=Stuff |access-date=25 February 2021}}
Personal life
Swiggs was the first Christchurch councillor who was openly gay at the time of his election. He is a supporter of the LGBTQ community.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_18855.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423044601/http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_18855.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 April 2017|title=GayNZ.com Chch elects openly gay councillor, Deon Swiggs|date=23 April 2017|access-date=7 February 2018}}
Awards
- Local Hero Award in New Zealander of the Year Awards{{cite news|title=CPIT student in the business of recovery|url=http://www.cpit.ac.nz/news-and-events/items?a=137952|work=CPIT News|publisher=Cpit.ac.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
- Christchurch City Council Service Award for Youth
- Community Service Award{{cite news|title=Awards for those who donate their time|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7125245/Awards-for-those-who-donate-their-time|work=The Press |publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 December 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Christchurch earthquakes}}
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Category:Christchurch City Councillors