Colin Baskin (Trust Chairperson) is Bay of Plenty born and bred and has spent 8 years living in the Mount Maunganui area. He has a history in competitive surf life saving and is passionate about the beach and marine environment. With an MBA from the Waikato University and 20 years commercial experience he provides a valuable contribution to this phase of the Reef's development. Colin is currently a senior executive at ZESPRI International Limited based at Mount Maunganui.


Glenn Bright (Trustee) is one of the most significant surf retailers in Australasia with his ASSAULT store in Mt Maunganui. Recognised as a pioneer in the retail business of surfing, Glenn has a significant local expertise. He believes the Reef will bring excellent hospitality, food, retail and tourism business to everyone in the Western Bay.


Moira Healey (Trust Secretary) with 20 years legal experience is now assisting in the operation of an eco-resort in South East Lombok, Indonesia. This involves her spending some time away from New Zealand however most of the operation is run from Raglan in New Zealand via the internet. This along with the administration of other holiday properties in New Zealand highlights her interest in the Mount Reef Project as one that has a focus on the hospitality industry and of course the ever increasing surfing and water sports industries. Moira is also interested in environmental issues and is in favour of the coastal protection that artificial surfing reefs offer.


Dr Kerry Black (Trustee) of Waikato University is a foundation member of the Trust who initiated the project as a hypothetical reef to be studied by one of his Doctoral Students, Dr Shaw Mead. Both are now directors of Artificial Surf Reefs Limited and world experts in this type of construction. They have developed artificial reefs on Australia's Gold Coast and they are involved in 15 projects worldwide. ASR Ltd is the only company that has surfing reef design experience, computer modelling skills and the basic knowledge of beach and wave dynamics.


Craig Hadfield (Trustee)


Mark Tingey (Legal Advisor to the Trust) joined Holland Beckett in 1994 and has been a partner since 1998. He has a particular interest in franchising law and acts for a number of franchisors and franchisees in the Bay of Plenty region. He also has extensive expertise in contractual drafting and negotiation, and in structuring national and international licensing /distribution arrangements for local exporters including Zespri Group Limited. Mark is currently a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, has recently been appointed as the honorary solicitor for the newly created Tourism Bay of Plenty Trust and also acts for the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust, another significant local organisation playing an important role in the local community. The trustees of the Mount Reef Trust wish to acknowledge the considerable input Mark has made in helping the Trust to make the Mount Reef a reality. Contact Mark by phone on 07 571 3856 or alternatively by email


David Neilson (Trust Executive Officer) joined the trust on a full-time basis in December 2004 to drive and complete the fundraising campaign, handle the administration of the trust, liase with the media, and be the first point of contact with the Mount Reef Trust. David has been instrumental in raising the $1.5M needed to fund the project and has also project managed construction of the second half of the reef.


Other past Trust members including Barrister Chris Tennet, Resource Management expert Dr Hamish Rennie, Cr Bob Harnor, Grant Dyson, Phillip Smith and lawyer Robert Makgill have also offered their ongoing assistance to the trust. Robert Makgill helped the trust immensely with his voluntary time during the High Court challenge by Sun Pacific Villas. We thank him for ensuring that the challenge was not upheld by the High Court.