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John "Bertie" Cocking
John "Bertie" Cocking
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John "Bertie" Cocking

Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

"And that's the attitude: 'Have a go.'"

Career Roadmap

John "Bertie"'s work combines: Acting & Theatre, Government, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Napier's Town Ambassador

I'm a city counsellor, tour guide, and ambassador, sharing with visitors my love of the town of Napier.

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    As a child, he decided he wanted to be a "millionaire," wanted to do something that would make him "heaps of money."

  • 2.

    Left school at 15, started working; became a certified public accountant by age 22.

  • 3.

    Had a good amount of money, had a comfortable life, but he wondered if there was something he'd enjoy doing more.

  • 4.

    One of his friends mentioned that he had a talent for imitating a TV character named "Manuel."

  • 5.

    He started performing as Manuel at restaurant dinner shows; the success led a woman to invite him to move to Auckland, perform full-time.

  • 6.

    Thought, "why not?" and moved to Auckland, gave up on his accounting job without hesitation.

  • 7.

    Later invented his own character, Bertie, who acts as a "walking tourism office" for the city of Napier.

  • 8.

    For years, the town of Napier paid him to perform as Bertie, but now he does it purely for fun.