Stephenson has also recently taken to doing story-time sessions on the party\u2019s social media accounts, a huge development for fans of his 2023 Newsroom interview<\/a>. In his hands is a copy of children\u2019s book \u2013 partially authored by a lowly Act staffer, partially by AI \u2013 titled \u201cLaura McClure and the Very Bossy Rulebook\u201d, a cautionary children\u2019s tale about the uber-scary powers of the Broadcasting Standards Authority. With evidence that he has indeed consumed locally produced written material, does Stephenson feel redeemed?<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I mean, I can read,\u201d Stephenson informs me. \u201cI reflect on it, and in a sense, it actually reinforces why I\u2019m in Act: people should actually have their own opinion on what arts and culture they are interested in.\u201d And better than books is the The Spinoff\u2019s Juggernaut podcast, of which Stephenson is a massive fan (\u201cI think The Spinoff should be giving me some kind of royalties because I convert basically everyone to listening to it\u201d). And, more than Juggernaut, he loves musicals: his favourite is the Australian show Keating, he recently saw The Pirates of Penzance in New York, and he would love to produce a musical about David Seymour post-politics.<\/p>\n When he\u2019s not enjoying those various bits of arts and culture, you can find Stephenson at home in Queenstown, where he and his partner Alex can soak in The Remarkables from their balcony. Don\u2019t hold it against him, but Alex is an Aussie \u2013 the couple met during Stephenson\u2019s 15-year stint across the ditch, where he became one of the first openly gay leader of a pharmaceuticals company. After being made redundant in 2022, Stephenson got in touch with old mate Seymour, moved back to New Zealand, and the rest is history.<\/p>\n We get to talking about Stephenson\u2019s most-listened to artists of the year (he uses Apple Music, which is arguably woke) and he lets me know he\u2019s been blasting Pearl Jam the most. But it\u2019s his mention of listening to \u201ca bit of Taylor Swift\u201d that gets my heart rate up, and brings a pressing question to the front of my mind: would Taylor Swift vote for the Act Party?<\/p>\n Stephenson swirls his drink, and behind his eyes you can see the gears of his brain turning over as he ponders all the ways this could backfire for him politically. He thinks for a second: \u201cMaybe.\u201d Then he loses a bit of confidence: \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d It\u2019s a make or break moment \u2013 will Stephenson follow in the bold footsteps of his leader, and declare every famous person living or dead an Act voter? Will it finally hit me that Swift\u2019s years-long fight to own her masters was actually an exercise in showing the public the importance of fighting for your property rights?<\/p>\n Then, Stephenson decides on his final answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n THE SPINOFF PUB Q+A<\/p>\n How much should a pint cost?<\/p>\n Whatever the market can bear; probably in these times, it\u2019s north of $10. But I\u2019ve been telling young Dray [Mark, Act research and policy adviser] that I remember when you could get a jug at the Union Bar at Otago University for $4.<\/p>\n Do you have a karaoke go-to?<\/p>\n \u2018Uptown Girl\u2019 by Billy Joel. So, you know about SingStar? When I used to flat here in Wellington, working in consulting, my flatmate loved karaoke, he was obsessed with it. Just before dinner, or while we were making dinner, he\u2019d fire up the SingStar and make us all do a song.<\/p>\n Favourite place to get a drink in Aotearoa?<\/p>\n When you come to Queenstown, I\u2019ll take you to the Sundeck Bar, near the waterfront. It\u2019s a little rooftop bar \u2013 really cool \u2013 and you can sit there and just have a cocktail in the afternoon sun.<\/p>\n Which three MPs would be on your pub quiz team?<\/p>\n [Act\u2019s] Andrew Hoggard, that guys knows a lot of stuff. And [Green MP] Lawrence Xu-Nan, because he\u2019s a hard worker, that guy. You know, we probably don\u2019t have the same politics, but he works hard, so I give him that. And then, probably [Labour\u2019s] Barb Edmonds \u2013 I\u2019ve been lucky enough to have a drink and dinner with her and her husband when we were on a speaker\u2019s tour to the US together. I think she\u2019d be a good time at a pub quiz.<\/p>\n Which MP from across the aisle would you most like to share a drink with?<\/p>\n [Labour\u2019s] Vanushi Walters is someone I\u2019d like to have a drink with, because she\u2019s just joined the justice committee; she\u2019s come in during the term<\/a>. She\u2019s a lawyer, and I actually find her very smart, very sensible, and a great contributor.<\/p>\n Is there an alcohol-related law you would like to change?<\/p>\n Obviously, Kieran [McAnulty\u2019s] trading days law came through the justice select committee [recently]. We\u2019ve done a lot of work, and we are going to try and work on an amendment, because at the moment [the bill] only applies to on-licences. Originally, it was going to apply to off-licences, but Kieran had to make some changes. In Queenstown, for example, you have a situation where a supermarket is open, but even with this amendment it couldn\u2019t sell alcohol. \u00a0So that\u2019s something we\u2019d like to change.<\/p>\n What\u2019s a policy area we\u2019ve been nursing without finishing the glass?<\/p>\n I think there\u2019s maybe just still a bit more to do in the health and medical spaces. Watch this space: I can\u2019t say much, but I\u2019m working on a little project. We\u2019ll see whether it comes off or not.<\/p>\n What qualities make a good drinking partner?<\/p>\n Obviously, someone who is fun. But also, I\u2019ve got a very good friend of mine who\u2019s in Sydney, he\u2019s right into his cocktails \u2013 specifically the chartreuse-based cocktails. Someone who knows his stuff on cocktails, and can ask the bar to make something a bit different.<\/p>\n Have you ever had a Schnapps election moment where you regretted your political instinct?<\/p>\nTodd and his reading material.<\/p>\n
Cute!<\/p>\n