How well do we really know our politicians, and the personal values and experiences they bring to decisions that affect us all?
This week on Backstory, Newshub Nation sat down with ACT MP Simon Court to find out what shapes and motivates him.
In his early twenties, Court developed a severe strain of meningitis.
After going to the doctor he was sent home with some Panadol and told to rest.
It was his younger sister who realised the severity of the ailment, noticing his skin was "black and blue," and forced him back to the hospital.
Court said he was "given a shot of penicillin by a doctor who said 'this is probably the best chance you're going to have, good luck'."
The next thing Court remembers is "coming out of a coma about three weeks later".
"It was about six months of rehabilitation and recovery," Court said.
"I lost about 30 kilos and I could barely walk.
"It was quite a struggle to come back from that physically."
Court believes the close brush with death gave him an appreciation for the things that are important in life.
"It's relationships with family and friends," he said.
"It's identifying things that are important to do and not wasting time because you might not have as much time as you think."
For Court, an important thing is creating a place he likes to come back to and live in each day, with a thriving garden being a top priority.
He likes having "a safe and comfortable home that's a real paradise to come back to."
Watch the full video for more.
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
