The happy east Auckland home of Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is filled with joy as he and wife Rebecca welcome their family’s newest addition.
Baby Peter is little brother to his older siblings Anna, who’s six years old, Grace, who’s four-and-a-half, and two-year-old Thomas.
The Brown family are grateful to their “amazing” midwife Margie Ireland for her expertise as well as the staff of Middlemore Hospital and the Botany Birthing Unit.
Peter arrived a healthy 2.9kg, or 6lbs 4oz in the old terminology, on August 17.
“He’s not a big kid so he’s probably not going to be a front-rower, but you never know,” Rebecca jokes.
Many people in the community were surprised to learn of Peter’s birth given the pregnancy was not widely known. His mother says he was an uncomplicated labour.
And his dad, who serves as the hardworking Minister of Health in Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s coalition Government, says his family and their children is what “keeps us very busy and happy”.
“I’m very blessed with a wonderful wife who’s very supportive, but between the job and the family it keeps us fully occupied,” Brown says.
“We are very blessed to have this little family. Each one of them is incredibly wonderful and brings a lot of joy to our house.
“It’s [Peter’s arrival] very exciting and the children are very happy.”
While the Times is visiting with the family, Brown asks Anna if she’s told her friends at school about Peter.
She says she has, and her father asks what she said about him.
“That I have cuddles with him,” she replies.
Brown says he and Rebecca are “very grateful for all the wonderful healthcare professionals and our midwife for their support”.
“People will see us around the community from time to time with four little kids, and I’m very grateful for the support of the community.
“It’s a real privilege to raise this little family here in east Auckland. It’s a great place to raise a family with great schools and a great community.
“We’re also very grateful for the support the community gives to me to be able to do my job, which is represent them down in Wellington and across the country.”
Brown describes his wife Rebecca as an “absolute super-mum”.
“I’m away most of the week and during weekends I come home with a box of papers I have to read.
“I try to spend as much time at home as possible on weekends, just being around and being present as much as I can despite the workload.”
