Theo Simeonidis moved to Auckland from Wellington in 2005 after extensive experience within the Government, commercial and trade association sectors which saw him work in numerous parts of New Zealand.
Previously he served as Chief Executive of the Motel Association of New Zealand (1999-04), Chief Executive of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, (1993-97) and Chief Executive of the Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (1991-93). Prior to that he had fifteen years in the forestry industry (1975-90), firstly as a forester with NZ Forest Service, followed by 18 months in the Forestry Corporation Establishment Unit as part of a small team setting up the NZ Forestry Corporation group of companies. He then served as Company Secretary of the NZ Forestry Corporation Ltd group of companies after the State-Owned Enterprises were set up in 1987.
In between this he squeezed in twelve months’ experience in Parliament on secondment from the NZ Forest Service working with the Minister and Parliamentary Undersecretary of Lands, Forests and Agriculture (1985-86) during the major reforms of the New Zealand economy.
In 1997 Theo also established a successful hospitality establishment, Theo’s Greek Taverna, in Wellington, which he sold in 2006 after nearly 10 years, during which time it became well known for providing "...the total Greek experience:" Greek food, wine, music, dancing, atmosphere and fun and the traditional happy nature of a taverna that one might find on any Greek island, or in Plaka - the heart of Athens itself.
Owning and operating a restaurant establishment proved to be a
great learning experience in a wide range of small business activities
- even to the extent of developing and successfully launching an
in-house branded beer (Theo's Lager of course!) that soon outsold even
Heineken!
With Theo at the helm, Theo’s Greek Taverna won numerous national and local awards and commendations, including The Dominion-Des Britten's Restaurant of the Year, Best Bit of Fun Award, (1999 & 2000); Best Greek Restaurant in New Zealand, Michael Guy's Eating Out Good Food Awards (2001 & 2002); Best Greek Restaurant in Wellington, Capital Times’ Best of Wellington Awards (2006).
It was reviewed in the prestigious Cuisine Magazine in 2002. Click here to view the video: Life and times at Theo's Greek Taverna.
Theo graduated from the University of Canterbury in 1975 with Bachelor of Forestry Science (Honours) and gained his Master of Public Policy degree from Victoria University of Wellington in 1982. In the latter he focused on organization development, organizational psychology and change processes. Theo has been active in numerous business and professional organizations particularly the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce (1989-94) where he rose to the position of Vice-President, and the NZ Institute of Management of which he was made a Fellow (FNZIM) in December 2002. He is also a member of the Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Theo has been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen for services to New Zealand in the fields of freshwater sport fisheries advocacy and conservation by being awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. His services in leading some major conservation campaigns were also recognised by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society in being presented with an Old Blue award in 1991.
Theo was also awarded the Motel Association of New Zealand President's Cup in 2002, for his leadership, drive and setting an outstanding example in the motel industry while Chief Executive of that organisation. This remains the only occasion on which an employee of the Association has been recognised in this manner.
Theo is a passionate trout angler and writer, although the testing professional and business activities of recent years have limited the amount of time available to spend on the river or writing angling articles for publication. Living in the North Island naturally means that Lake Taupo and its tributaries have been a significant attraction, but it is the brown trout rivers and streams of the Nelson, West Coast, Manawatu and Wairarapa regions that have featured most prominently in his trout angling education. He harbours special memories of summer days and evenings on the Motueka, Buller and Wangapeka Rivers and their tributaries.
More recently, Theo was privileged to be able to spend a day of a
lifetime fishing the hallowed River Itchen in Hampshire, England, one
of England’s most revered chalk streams that has been famous for
centuries. This was an absolute dream, and an account of that day is
featured elsewhere on this web site: click here for a written account;
and click here for a pictorial sequence.
Music is Theo’s other abiding passion. He plays both the mandolin and violin and previously was performing with a Latin American nuevo flamenco band VoxNova. He subsequently performed as a member of Greek Nights, an Auckland-based Greek band that he started with two colleagues in August 2008 and which featured regularly at various venues around Auckland, both on the North Shore and Auckland City.
With the departure overseas of the other two members of Greek Nights in August 2011, Theo created the Sounds of Greece music and dance show with his wife Cristina.
This is a nostalgic journey through the music of Greece and enables guests to re-kindle memories of their time in that country and to transport them to the Greek islands for a few hours, or to Plaka - the heart of old Athens itself. More information…
Theo lives in Auckland with wife Cristina, his partner-in-life and in business, along with KosTa, their beloved moggy and Mac, a dear 20 year-old Burmese. He has two beautiful daughters from his first marriage: Natasha who works as an art director in Wellington, and who is crazy about fitness; and Vanessa who is a legal counsel for a Lloyds insurance syndicate in London.
Theo Simeonidis moved to Auckland from Wellington in 2005 after extensive experience within the Government, commercial and trade association sectors which saw him work in numerous parts of New Zealand. 
In 1997 Theo also established a successful hospitality establishment, Theo’s Greek Taverna, in Wellington, which he sold in 2006 after nearly 10 years, during which time it became well known for providing "...the total Greek experience:" Greek food, wine, music, dancing, atmosphere and fun and the traditional happy nature of a taverna that one might find on any Greek island, or in Plaka - the heart of Athens itself.
With Theo at the helm, Theo’s Greek Taverna won numerous national and local awards and commendations, including The Dominion-Des Britten's Restaurant of the Year, Best Bit of Fun Award, (1999 & 2000); Best Greek Restaurant in New Zealand, Michael Guy's Eating Out Good Food Awards (2001 & 2002); Best Greek Restaurant in Wellington, Capital Times’ Best of Wellington Awards (2006). 
Theo has been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen for services to New Zealand in the fields of freshwater sport fisheries advocacy and conservation by being awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. His services in leading some major conservation campaigns were also recognised by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society in being presented with an Old Blue award in 1991.
Theo is a passionate trout angler and writer, although the testing professional and business activities of recent years have limited the amount of time available to spend on the river or writing angling articles for publication. Living in the North Island naturally means that Lake Taupo and its tributaries have been a significant attraction, but it is the brown trout rivers and streams of the Nelson, West Coast, Manawatu and Wairarapa regions that have featured most prominently in his trout angling education. He harbours special memories of summer days and evenings on the Motueka, Buller and Wangapeka Rivers and their tributaries. 
Music is Theo’s other abiding passion. He plays both the mandolin and violin and previously was performing with a Latin American nuevo flamenco band VoxNova. He subsequently performed as a member of Greek Nights, an Auckland-based Greek band that he started with two colleagues in August 2008 and which featured regularly at various venues around Auckland, both on the North Shore and Auckland City. 
With the departure overseas of the other two members of Greek Nights in August 2011, Theo created the Sounds of Greece music and dance show with his wife Cristina. 
Theo lives in Auckland with wife Cristina, his partner-in-life and in business, along with KosTa, their beloved moggy and Mac, a dear 20 year-old Burmese. He has two beautiful daughters from his first marriage: Natasha who works as an art director in Wellington, and who is crazy about fitness; and Vanessa who is a legal counsel for a Lloyds insurance syndicate in London.
