Dave Donaldson
Currently Chair of The Takapuna Beach Business Association, Dave has taken up the challenge of coordinating many ideas and concepts to help breathe new life back into Takapuna. One of his passions is to recreate older commercial buildings to give vibrancy and style and create a cool environment to work, shop, eat and relax in. “I’ve had the privilege of living on the Shore for 50 years and for the last 20, my wife Ruth and I have been living in beautiful Takapuna. We have two adults sons: Myles and family living in Sydney; and Craig and family living in New York.”
Dave Donaldson’s
5 Favourite shore Things
1. The shore is blessed with beautiful beaches but Takapuna has a charm of its own - firm sand, even at low tide, and a horse shoe shape of 1.2 km long to make it a very worthwhile exercise location.
It really is a magnificent beach surrounded by some of the best sailing, boating and watersports provided on this planet.
I am looking forward to the many changes that are eminent that will make Takapuna Beach a vibrant destination for even more beach and water based activities in the future.
We love to walk Takapuna Beach or the walkway around the rocks to Milford, finish at 'The Takapuna Beach Cafe' for breakfast or 'Jam' for brunch, with one final stop for a browse at the 'Department Store’ and their French cafe for coffee and a croissant.
2. Our favourite restaurant is Al Forno. Maria and Emilio have built up a great local clientele through great service, warm personalities and excellent food.
3. Whenever we get a little free time we love to relax at home and enjoy being adjacent to the beach cafes, restaurants, shopping center and the ocean.
4. Having travelled most parts of the world over many years we can be genuinely very proud of our little country and in particular the North Shore of Auckland, most importantly Takapuna.
5. Being part of some of the new ventures in our city and seeing the support and enthusiasm from the locals. It is very encouraging as we continue to build on this desire for change with the confirmed support of our Auckland City Council to provide substantial funding over the next few years. Takapuna will be the place to be!
There is no better motivating factor than to walk Takapuna beach as the sun comes up and be greeted with 'what a beautiful day' 'how's that for a magnificent sunrise' or "Top of the morning to you Dave'.
Janet Marshall
