David has a long association with the Holiday Park having holidayed here every year with his family as a child and later returning with his own family.  A chartered accountant with more than 30 years’ experience, he opened and ran his own tourist attraction in the Nelson Tasman region for seven years giving him useful operational experience in the tourism sector.
David joined the Holiday Park in 2019 and became chief executive in 2021.

Originally from the UK, Joe was a seasoned traveller by the time he came to live in New Zealand in 2013 after meeting his wife while backpacking.  Having started his working life in the building trade, Joe moved into the Facilities Management sector where he has gained 10 years’ experience in several hands-on and management positions on both sides of the globe.  He broadened his skills while exploring New Zealand, working in Dairy farming, Hospitality management, Sales and Orchard work before settling back into an FM role in Nelson in 2015. Joe now oversees all the Facilities, Grounds and Maintenance around the Holiday Park.

Tina’s career has spanned a number of roles in the customer services and health insurance industries including Sky Television, AIA (previously Sovereign) and Southern Cross, having identified that service excellence and process refinement was something she is drawn to and has a natural flair for. Tina joined us in December 2021, excited to be bringing her knowledge and skill base to the Holiday Park, and working alongside a team that she quickly recognised as dedicated to seamless service and genuine interest in a happy guest experience.

Debbie trained as a journalist out of school then retrained in marketing after living in the UK for some years.  Her career has spanned many years of marketing management and consulting, as well as journalism and public relations management, predominantly working in the Tourism, Food and Hospitality sectors.
She has been in the Nelson region for several years after moving with her family from Christchurch.  The Events part of her role with the Holiday Park covers the holiday programme we run during summer as well as our involvement in trade shows and community events.

Julia joined us in June 2023, assisting with all things marketing, coordinating the summer events programme, and supporting Reception when needed. Intending to spend just a few weeks exploring a beautiful little country far from her homeland of Hungary, Julia came to New Zealand in 2006 with a backpack and has never looked back. Her professional life began with measuring customer satisfaction at a large international airport. With a passion for tourism and hospitality ignited, Julia has since worked in various industries and roles in NZ, including hospitality, sales and marketing, customer service and even real estate! Julia moved to Nelson with her husband and two children in 2021 and is proud to call Nelson home.

Originally from Wellington and trained as a hairdresser, Tracey moved to Nelson 25 years ago and fell in love with the place and the people.

She has previously worked as a caregiver at a retirement home, a supervisor and product service representative with New Zealand’s largest retail group, and held housekeeping roles over the years in various places including holiday homes, holiday parks, commercial offices and domestic homes. Joining the Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park team in 2018, guest satisfaction is Tracey’s top priority.

Nicola has called Nelson home for most of her life although travelled far and wide over the years.  Handling the accounts for various sized businesses, property management and tour guiding around the South Island contribute to the broad skill base she brings to the role.

One of those essential sorts in any team, Nicola also helps out on Reception supporting Customer Services when needed.

Sam, Cyntthia, Zara, Sierra, Logan, Georgie, Lorna, Olivia, Karlee, Kare, Maddie and Kere: our housekeeping team is known for their careful eye for detail and efficiency.  Keeping all the surfaces clean and tidy, our guests’ comfort is their main priority.  (But it’s hard to get them all in one place for a team photo!)

Alison, Kim, Monika, Wendy, Zaliyah, Steven and Annelies; this friendly, helpful team of customer relations professionals take care of our guests all day every day – from reservations to check-ins, washing machine tokens to games equipment, and activity advice and bookings. Between them they speak three languages in addition to English: French, German and Swiss-German.

Ian, Barry, Gavin and Shane. This team has a wide range of hands-on skills that help keep the park in tip top shape year-round. An average day might include anything from fixing a leaky tap and painting to mowing and building things in the workshop to enhance the guest experience. They have invaluable knowledge of the inner workings of the Park, including all the plant and machinery that needs to be looked after.

Each summer we employ a Park Assistants team and for the 2023/24 summer they were Billy, Ronin, Gus, Jed, Oscar and Henry. This active team ushers people to their sites by bike, help people in the activities hut, supervise the waterslide and undertake departure site checks.

Did someone say FUN?! Live music, scavenger hunts, quiz nights, balloon twisting, the annual Tāhuna’s Got Talent, volleyball and sandcastle building competitions – you name it, they make it happen! It was so good to get the Events band back together again for the 2023/24 High season – Rosie, Debbie, Sam and Julia love engaging with our holiday park community and keeping them entertained.

Left to right:

Joy Shackleton

Prue Smith (Secretary – left the position in Dec 2023)

Melanie Madden

Steve Cross – Chair

Gaile Noonan

Dennis Christian

Melinda Harvey – Deputy Chair