Who We Are & What We Do
Meet the Devonport Peninsula Trustees and Staff
Click Here for DPT Annual Report
Nigel Bioletti, General and Fundraising Manager
Nigel Bioletti comes to the trust as General and Fundraising Manager (GAFM) after a career in Education, having been Principal of three schools, and working in the Central Plateau, and Hauraki Plains areas of New Zealand, before coming back to Auckland as firstly Deputy Principal, and then Principal at Birkenhead Primary School. After finishing up at Birkenhead, Nigel worked for three years for N.Z.E.I. Te Riu Roa – NZ’s largest Education union. His work there was focused on supporting and organising Principals in their own pay and conditions campaigns.
Nigel decided that a part time role in his home area , and the place he was born into, would be a great next step, and started with Devonport Peninsula Trust in December 2021. He is very much enjoying working with the Trust’s staff and with all of those people with whom the Trust has relationships.
Nigel’s wife, Chris, is an Associate Principal at Belmont Primary School. They have two daughters in NZ, Ella and Sophie, and a son, Samuel, in Melbourne. They also have one delightful little grandchild, Henry.
Nigel enjoys DIY, time with family and friends, and also plays in a blues band, Freight – which has played at various Devonport venues over the years, including the Masonic. The band has appeared at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival over the past three festivals, and is looking forward to the 2022 festival.
Nigel’s goals are to: support the work of the Trust Board, to grow the provision of the Trust through additional funding, and to support the good work of the existing teams in events, activities, and environmental restoration.
Abby Jones, Community Events Manager
Abby was born and raised In Invercargill but spent every school holiday in Devonport with her Dad. She then moved permanently in 1996 and attended Takapuna Grammar school.
Abby’s career background is a mix of Hospitality, Film and Events. She managed successful bars and restaurants all over NZ and in Australia. She studied Event Management in Melbourne in 2004, which has allowed her to participate in many big event productions around NZ and has organised numerous music events for various top NZ artists, special events and corporate functions.
She subsequently joined the film industry and has since held many positions in Production, Craft Service and Art departments.
In 2012 Abby established Bette’s Bar & Eatery in Devonport and was the Managing Director of the business for five years.
Abby resides in Bayswater with her two children. She is an active member at Narrow neck Playcentre, her son attends Devonport Community Creche and her daughter attends Bayswater Primary School.
If there is one thing we have all learned from the last couple of years, it has to be how important our sense of community is in trying times. Abby looks forward to contributing to the Devonport community in a meaningful way.
Ehara tōku i te toa takitahi. He toa takitini tōku toa / My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.
Madelaine Crawford, Summer Events Coordinator
A born and bred Kiwi, Madelaine grew up on Waiheke Island and has spent many days (and her hard earned pocket money) in Devonport over the years. She has a BSci in Food Science which she gained in Dunedin. Whilst loving the Dunedin lifestyle, she needed to move as the ocean swims down there made her lips turn blue! Devonport seemed to be the perfect place for her and her whānau with the warm water beaches, stunning walks, sights and of course, the beautiful welcoming community. She cannot wait to meet you all at the upcoming Summer events the DPT have planned.
Iain Rea, Chair
Iain works in media and communications and has run his own company, employing staff, working in marketing, arts promotion and production. His two young-adult sons, George and Gabriel, were raised on the peninsula where he has lived since 1999. He is a member of the Kaitiaki Group that supports Restoring Takarunga Hauraki, a founding member of Bayswater Environmental Action Network, and Chair of Devonport Peninsula Precincts Society, and Devonport Senior Citizens Association.
John Mazenier, Trustee
John has been settled in Devonport since 2015, having bucked the trend and migrated to Auckland with artist partner Janet, and their collection of dogs. They enjoy the unique spaces that the Devonport peninsula provides and are enthusiastic in promoting the area via their interests in the arts, history and ecological systems.
He is passionate in helping build thriving local communities and nurturing the broader environment, having been involved as Chair & committee member for several years at a similar heritage destination village, north of Wellington, being Pauatahanui.
John has a background in technology and professional services, having spent time working offshore, extensively through Australia and Asia, and brings broad commercial and governance experience to the Trust.
Ian Cunliffe, Trustee
Ian has lived in Devonport since 2004 and in that time he has served as President of Devonport Rotary Club on two occasions. He had also served on various Boards of Trustees including those at Devonport Primary School, St Leo’s Primary School and North Shore United Football Club. Ian presently works at Harcourts Real Estate in Devonport but also has both a legal and educational background from previous positions held in the UK.
Beth Beard, Trustee
Beth worked as physiotherapist for 15 years before moving into parenting and community focus full-time. She runs community fitness and dance classes to gather people for physical and social well-being. She has been a board member of Brooklyn Community Centre, Wellington, BRC (an eldercare community service provider), an exec member of St Johns Presbyterian Church Wellington with connections to BGI Institute (working with youth on the periphery), and was part of the Vogelmorn Community, converting a former bowling club in to an arts and community hub. Creating experiences for neighbours to get to know each other, to play and learn together is part of Beth’s DNA. She confesses to playing terrible golf, has helped with the Ethical Market at Devonport Community House, and delights in our glorious beaches with a weekly sea splash.
Anne McMillan, Trustee
Anne has lived in Devonport since 2015 where she developed bicultural, sustainability and mentoring systems for an Early Childhood centre before retiring in 2020. Previously, in Rotorua, she was an IT consultant in financial, inventory and Māori Trust systems in a niche software company that also developed forestry systems. Anne’s two children were raised there but one has since moved to Auckland and the other is now in Melbourne. Always interested in the volunteer sector through Playcentre, Martial arts and Early Childhood education, a love of the outdoors and physical challenges made it a natural fit to move into ecological restoration in the local community once she retired. Co-chair of the Rōpu Kaimahi for Restoring Takarunga-Hauraki she loves being out on the whenua every day planting and chatting to others.
Gordon Brodie, Trustee
Gordon has lived in Devonport since 1983. Prior to that he served as a Police Officer in Toronto, Canada for 10 years. Gordon's three children have all attended local schools and two still live in the area with families of their own. Gordon has always been involved in community projects and was a catalyst in establishing the Devonport Skate Park. He is a former Devonport Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He was a successful construction related business owner based on the North Shore. With a love of the environment it was inevitable that he would become involved with Restoring Takuranga Hauraki. He is a member of the steering group and co-Chair of this active community organisation.
Brent Talbot, Treasurer
Brent is a chartered accountant and a chartered member of the institute of directors. He uses the skills developed through these memberships to bring a disciplined approach to finance and governance oversight. Brent has had a long career in both finance and information technology developing strong skills in both. He has worked in NZ and overseas as a consultant with many organisations to implement and realise the benefits from new systems.
Brent has lived in Devonport since 1990 and has raised two children – Evie and Frank.
Brent enjoys working with community groups which work to make our communities inclusive and respectful of all. Brent is also a director of Altus Enterprises which is a social enterprise providing employment for people with disabilities.
Nina Wang, Board Minute Secretary
My name is Nina Wang. I was originally from China and moved to New Zealand 15 years ago. I was in Dunedin for 5 years and studied at the University of Otago before moving up to Auckland. I am doing my Health Psychology degree and working as an interviewer and researcher for Reach Aotearoa. I also volunteer at the Habour Hospice, Amitabha Hospice, and the Companionship and Morning Activities for Seniors (CMA) centre on North Shore. I am passionate about improving the quality of life for senior citizens and contributing to the community. I love playing tennis, hiking and scuba diving in my spare time.
For more information, please contact Te Hau Kapua Devonport Peninsula Trust