Sam Johnson (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Sam Johnson is a law and politics student
from Canterbury University
who rose to prominence as the organiser of the Student Volunteer Army in the immediate aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes of September 2010
and February 2011.
after his parents split up and attended Christ's College
for two terms, before spending a year as a gap student working in the Brecon Beacons
in South West Wales
.
Johnson is a student at Canterbury University, studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws.
Johnson successfully stood for the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board of the Christchurch City Council
in the October 2010 local body elections
. A member of the National Party
, but not the Young Nats, he was endorsed by Prime Minister John Key
for his election campaign. Key said of Johnson that he "might be Prime Minister
one day." Johnson has declared that he has no intention to run for higher public office in the near future.
In the days immediately following the earthquakes, while the university's Ilam
campus was closed to enable the buildings to be checked for structural safety, 21-year-old Johnson and other students formed informal groups to help to assist with non-lifesaving tasks, in particularly cleaning up soil liquefaction
residue on the streets and gardens of the city. Johnson and the other members of the Student Volunteer Army were highly visible and featured in much of the news reporting of the earthquake. Organised using Facebook and social media, the concept enabled thousands of students and residents of Christchurch to make a contribution to those most affected by the devastating earthquakes. At its peak, there were 13,000 students volunteering per week. Johnson met Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
when she toured Christchurch in 2010. The team of organisers received high praise from officials in New Zealand and this resulted in them speaking with Prince William about the potential programmes of volunteering involving young people.
In late April / early May 2011, Johnson spent two weeks in Japan following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
to set up a Student Volunteer Army at Waseda University
.
In 2011 Johnson won a leadership award from the Sir Peter Blake
Trust before travelling to Delhi
, India as a Global Changemaker to attend the British Council Asian Youth Summit.
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
from Canterbury University
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
who rose to prominence as the organiser of the Student Volunteer Army in the immediate aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes of September 2010
2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
and February 2011.
Biography
Johnson grew up in Mayfield and he has two siblings, Rebecca Johnson and Bridget Johnson. He moved to ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
after his parents split up and attended Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
for two terms, before spending a year as a gap student working in the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
in South West Wales
South West Wales
South West Wales is a region of Wales. A definition consisting of the unitary authorities of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire is used by a number of government agencies and private organisations including:*BBC...
.
Johnson is a student at Canterbury University, studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws.
Johnson successfully stood for the Riccarton-Wigram Community Board of the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
in the October 2010 local body elections
New Zealand local elections, 2010
The 2010 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. All elections are conducted by postal ballot, with election day being Saturday 9 October 2010.Elected were:...
. A member of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, but not the Young Nats, he was endorsed by Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
for his election campaign. Key said of Johnson that he "might be Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
one day." Johnson has declared that he has no intention to run for higher public office in the near future.
In the days immediately following the earthquakes, while the university's Ilam
Ilam, New Zealand
Ilam is a leafy suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand about five kilometres west of the city centre. It is the location of the University of Canterbury....
campus was closed to enable the buildings to be checked for structural safety, 21-year-old Johnson and other students formed informal groups to help to assist with non-lifesaving tasks, in particularly cleaning up soil liquefaction
Soil liquefaction
Soil liquefaction describes a phenomenon whereby a saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, usually earthquake shaking or other sudden change in stress condition, causing it to behave like a liquid....
residue on the streets and gardens of the city. Johnson and the other members of the Student Volunteer Army were highly visible and featured in much of the news reporting of the earthquake. Organised using Facebook and social media, the concept enabled thousands of students and residents of Christchurch to make a contribution to those most affected by the devastating earthquakes. At its peak, there were 13,000 students volunteering per week. Johnson met Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
when she toured Christchurch in 2010. The team of organisers received high praise from officials in New Zealand and this resulted in them speaking with Prince William about the potential programmes of volunteering involving young people.
In late April / early May 2011, Johnson spent two weeks in Japan following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
to set up a Student Volunteer Army at Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
.
In 2011 Johnson won a leadership award from the Sir Peter Blake
Peter Blake (yachtsman)
Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
Trust before travelling to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India as a Global Changemaker to attend the British Council Asian Youth Summit.