Craig Potton

• Name — Craig Potton • Honorific Suffix — MNZM • Born — 15 January 1952 • Birthplace — Nelson, New Zealand • Education — Nelson College • Alma Mater — University of Canterbury • Occupation — Photographer, writer, publisher • Political Party — Green Party

Potton was born in Nelson on 15 January 1952, the younger son of Rhoda Potton and her husband businessman Dick Potton who established Zip Industries and owned Nelson's cinema complex State Cinemas. He was educated at Nelson College from 1963 to 1969, where he played in the school's 'A' basketball team in 1968 and was a prefect in his final year. From a young age, Potton had an interest in environmentalism and took part in the Save Manapouri campaign while still a student at Nelson College. Potton went on to study at university: first at the University of Auckland in 1970 and then the University of Canterbury in 1971 and 1972, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He spent 1973 at Christchurch Teachers' College, and then returned to the University of Canterbury for postgraduate studies between 1974 and 1976, completing a Master of Arts with honours in religious studies. In 1988, Potton married Beverly Nina Beizman, who was Jewish, and the couple had one child. Beverly died from ovarian cancer in 2005. Potton later married his second wife, Catherine, with whom he has a daughter; Catherine also has two daughters from a previous relationship.

After teaching for two years at Nelson College, Potton left to concentrate full-time on conservation. Potton joined the conservation group Forest & Bird; besides serving as a board member of Forest & Bird and chairman of the group's Nelson branch, Potton also served as the group's representative on the New Zealand Conservation Authority and played a role in the creation of the Kahurangi and Rakiura National Parks. He was also a member of the National Forestry Council and the Federated Mountain Clubs executive.

Following the death of his father in 2007, Potton has been the co-owner with his older brother, Richard, of State Cinemas in Nelson and Motueka. He also owns his own Gallery Store in Nelson.

Active in local-body politics in Nelson, Potton served on the Nelson City Council for 12 years. He is also a past member of the Nelson Catchment Board, the Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council (he gained a seat in the Nelson constituency in the 1989 Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council election), the Nelson Conservation Board, and the Nelson Arts Council, and has served as chair of the Nelson Provincial Museum. Potton is also a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and stood unsuccessfully as a Green Party list candidate at the 1999 and 2002 general elections, where he was ranked 28th and 22nd, respectively, on the party's list.