A Word With Lawyer Andrew Schnauer

Age: 56
Occupation: Lawyer

What’s your morning routine?

A slow wake up absorbing Newstalk ZB’s morning news. Always a good healthy breakfast before a 5-minute commute to the office – where I make my first coffee.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Take my family to Austria for a truly white Christmas.
Visit Denmark (our family originated from there).
Do a snow mobile safari in Canada

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

Take more risks business/property-wise early on and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

How do you stay motivated?

Staying fit and healthy and ensuring a good work/life balance, seeing my family grow up and achieving their dreams, and retaining good relationships with my clients and business colleagues.

If you didn’t need money, what would you do?

Travel around the world on skiing and mountain biking trips with my family.

What is the secret to success?

Good communication, surrounding yourself with the right people and work hard, but keep life in balance.

What is the worst mistake you have made and how did you fix it?

On my first day working as a Ski Rep in France, I lost a bag containing all clients ski passes, ID photos and money for the passes. I fixed it by re-doing all photos in the ski resort and replacing the passes. Fortunately, I managed to retrieve the bag two days later.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Mikano – The setting with floor to ceiling glass provides an amazing view over the harbor and you nearly always see helicopters buzzing in and out or a cruise ship go by.

How do you keep up to date with current affairs?

Mike Hosking on Neswtalk ZB in the morning, the NZ Herald (mostly hard copy), TV3 News and a multitude of legal and business periodicals.

What is the secret to living a longer, more successful life?

The big 3: Exercise, healthy food and good sleep. Oh and red wine (it’s a health drink!)

What makes you feel alive?

Skiing fresh powder on a blue bird day (fairly rare!)