2024 KRRA Committee Nominations
The following nominations (in alphabetical order) have been received for positions on the 2024 KRRA Committee:
Alastair Brickell (current Committee Member)
Nominated by Kim Crosland, seconded by Nigel Crosland
Harriette and I have lived in Kuaotunu since 1980 and now run Stargazers B&B and Astronomy Tours.
Over that time I have been involved in several community groups including the Kuaotunu Fire Brigade (over 32 years), Rings Beach Wetland Group, Kuaotunu Hall Committee, MB Area School Board of Trustees, Kuaotunu Domain Board and also on the MB Historical Society committee for over 20 years. Time permitting I also help out with Kauri 2000 and Dune Care planting and have been a volunteer at the Coromandel I-Site.
Having been a KRRA committee member at various times over the last 30 years I am standing again as I feel it is an organisation that deserves input from a dedicated group of locals with a diverse range of ages, backgrounds and interests.
Only then can we ensure that Kuaotunu develops the way we want it to; rather than the way our local or regional councils think it should.
Kevin Crawford (current Secretary)
Nominated by Kim Crosland, seconded by Nigel Crosland
My wife Jenny and I have had a property in Kuaotunu West since 1983, built our house in 2005 and made the permanent move in mid-2020.
My background is in Engineering Consultancy with some 45 years in delivery of infrastructure projects here and overseas with the last 20 years in New Zealand on road and rail projects for local authority and government agencies.
It is this experience that can advocate for the Kuaotunu community through KRRA with TCDC and Waka Kotahi on key issues such as a fairer share of investment into local & SH25 roading and road safety, walking and cycling and community infrastructure.
In my second year with KRRA I’ve been pleased to have played a part with a proactive Committee that has advocated on your behalf on the TCDC Annual Plan, made submissions on the Community objectives into the Long Term Plan 2024-2034, stakeholder engagement and speed management and footpath road safety on SH25 and continue to lobby for footpath safety for connectivity for walkers and cyclists from Kuaotunu to Matarangi including a new suspension bridge at the Rockfall site.
I am passionate about this vibrant community we are fortunate to call home and continuing to proactively contribute to achieving its future vision.
Kim Crosland (current Committee Member)
Nominated by Carol Blair, seconded by Jenny Crawford
Nige and I emigrated from England in 2002 with our son and daughter and lived on the North Shore in Auckland for 18 years prior to moving to the Coromandel. We bought a bach in beautiful Kūaotunu in 2019, then following the first COVID lockdown Nige retired from his 40 years in construction and we moved permanently to Kūaotunu 3 years ago and never looked back.
For the past 32 years I have been working in the tertiary education sector and am very fortunate to be able to continue in a consultancy capacity working from home by the beach.
We are both involved in local community groups, Nige as secretary for Dune Care and I’m secretary for the Kūaotunu Hall Committee. We both see huge value in being involved with the local community getting to know, and understand, more and more about how this wonderful community ticks and how we can contribute to the up keep and improvements for all to enjoy.
Steve Hart
Nominated by Kevin Crawford, seconded by Jenny Crawford
After several years working in outback Australia and owning hospitality and tourism businesses in Queenstown I returned to Whitianga and moved to Kuaotunu where I met and married my wife Gay. We founded Go Kiwi Shuttles, a well-known transport business which we operated for several years until selling it in 2006.
I then took up a position with a TCDC contractor as an Enforcement Officer and then with TCDC as a Contracts Manager. I initiated bringing all bylaws, parking control and dog control contracts back in house and moved to a role as Team Leader managing the TCDC compliance team. I was responsible for the governance of various bylaws and concession licencing. This included reviewing and drafting new bylaws including the Freedom Camping Bylaw, establishing a pay and display system in Mercury Bay South and a boat ramp permit system. Over the next 10 years I built strong relationships with TCDC staff, Councillors, Community Boards and Mayors.
In 2004 I helped establish Kuaotunu Search and Rescue covering Mercury Bay to the tip of the Coromandel. In the past 20 years I have co-managed over 75 search operations. I was Chair of KSAR from 2004 to 2023 and remain involved with KSAR co-managing search operations and training / mentoring the Incident Management team.
In 2006 I joined MPI as an Honorary Fishery Officer to help protect the fishery that I enjoyed in my spare time fishing and kayaking. In 2020 I helped establish a community-led Emergency Response Group assisting locals and visitors during emergency events. I am also an administrator for the local Facebook page Kuaotunu Katchup along with 5 other locals.
After resigning from my volunteer role with MPI and as a Team Leader with TCDC I established my current business Coast Lawns & Property Care, employing a great team of locals who are the backbone of our success.
I have a close relationship with Kuaotunu and its people and would feel privileged to serve on the KRRA committee. I would ensure the voices of residents and ratepayers are heard, and strive to protect our unique environment and our social well-being.
Mark Kilgour
Nominated by Kevin Crawford, seconded by Jose Kakebeeke
Lynette and I bought our home in Kuaotunu in 2021 and moved here permanently from Auckland 6 months ago.
We love the lifestyle and friendly people of Kuaotunu and intend to be here for many years to come. We are slowly getting involved in many aspects of the local community and we enjoy showing visitors and friends this little piece of paradise.
Being part of the KRRA would give me a chance to continue to contribute to Kuaotunu.
Marguerite Muellers (current Committee Member)
Nominated by Nedilka Radojkovich, seconded by Mark Tugendhaft
I have lived in Kuaotunu for more than 30 years working part time as an Educational Psychologist with contracts from ACC and the Family Court. I am a committee member of the Kuaotunu Library and Grey Power Inc.
Having been a KRRA committee member in the early 90's I am standing again because the KRRA must have contributions and input from a wide range of people with good knowledge of the community we are living in. To keep the natural beauty of Kuaotunu and to help protect our natural resources is in my nature. I am a strong advocate for human rights and 'common sense'.
Elisabeth Resl
Nominated by Alastair Brickell, seconded by Kathy Speirs
Born in Austria, Franz and I came to New Zealand in 2005. After being shaken out of Christchurch by the earthquakes I took up a job at Thames-Coromandel District Council as a policy planner.
During this time, we fell in love with Kuaotunu, but it was only after work had taken us to Taranaki and then Auckland that we took the leap of faith in 2015, started our own engineering consultancy and moved here permanently.
Work life was full and did not leave me much time or energy to be able to get involved a lot with community activities, other than as a committee member of Kauri 2000.
I have managed to considerably cut back my workload and would like to contribute to continuing the current committee’s good work, particularly at a point in time when three long-standing ‘pillars’ of the committee will no longer be available to steer Kuaotunu’s future.
In my view an engaged community is key to keeping Councils on track to administer ratepayers’ money in a responsible and useful way.