Different people are motivated by different goals in life. Therefore, sometimes we find ourselves in certain situations that we never anticipated. In December 1988, the then Government gave approval for the importation of the predatory channel catfish into NZ. The approval was granted to a poorly researched aquaculture venture in the far north. This coincided with my taking on the role of President of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Angers (NZFFA).
Embracing opportunities, circumstances and challenges: to serve and help my community
Faced with a misguided Government decision, the entire conservation fraternity resigned itself to the inevitable outcome of the catfish escaping into our waterways. Thus becoming the “opossum” of our rivers. Being the only person in NZ who believed that this decision could be reversed, I set about instilling belief in others. Then, over a period of 20 months, a strong, nationwide coalition of recreation and conservation organisations was built to fight the decision. By harnessing expert research from overseas, we succeeded in reversing the Government’s decision. The outcome meant that the channel catfish fingerlings, held in quarantine, were finally destroyed. Ironically, I was subsequently awarded the 1990 Commemoration Medal by the Government for services to New Zealand!
This experience taught me that the challenges we face in life or business can bring out qualities we never knew we had! On reflection, I feel blessed to have been “chosen” by circumstances to lead the fight in that epic channel catfish saga. It has helped me to find my “why”: to serve and help others.
I take immense pleasure in serving and helping others in several ways:
- By providing security and peace of mind to families and businesses through tailoring sound insurance protection plans.
- By supporting community causes and charities such as the annual Greek Extravaganza, which I organised and ran for seven years, and raised $137,525 over that time for Harbour Hospice.
- By supporting and helping local businesses through managing four local business networking groups and giving them business recommendations, referrals and connections.
If you do not presently have a protection plan for you and your family, I invite you to contact me for an initial no-obligation consultation. This will be conducted in the gentle, respectful and sensitive manner for which UProtectNZ Insurance Services is renown. We have made a long-term commitment to helping people and our wider community, and welcome the opportunity to be of assistance.
It’s what we do.
Theo Simeonidis
UProtectNZ Insurance Services