Winter Family Special: From 28 June – 13 July 2025, kids stay free and enjoy a free round of mini golf for four! Use the discount code JULY25 when booking.
Kia ora – we are the people behind Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park. We are involved in the Park because we love Nelson, we love being involved in tourism and hospitality and we love sharing this special place with visitors.
David Pattinson - Chief Executive
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.
Joe Adams - Facilities Manager
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 Thomas - Customer Services Manager
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 Armatage - Marketing, Communications and Events Manager
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 Mak – Marketing and Events Coordinator
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.
Tracey Stuart - Housekeeping Manager
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 Symonds - Accounts and HR
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.
Housekeeping Team
Cyntthia, Sierra, Sam, Logan, Maddie, Karemoana, Karlee, Christine and Carolyn were joined for summer by Joshua, Hayley, Lucas, Reuben, Freya, Emer and Debra: 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!)
Block Cleaners
Lorna, Gabby, Hamish, Cindy, Daniel and Olly were joined for summer by JoJo, Alistair, Ross, Tracy, Cara and Eddy: our block cleaning team is known for their dedication and thoroughness, ensuring that every facility block is clean and well-maintained for our guests. Each block receives their attention three times a day during our busy periods.
Customer Service Team
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.
Grounds and Maintenance Team
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 plants and machinery that needs to be looked after.
Summer Events Team
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, this crew makes it happen! Last summer we had Jed (formerly a park assistant), Kath, and Anna joining Julia (and sometimes Debbie) in the marquee. They loved engaging with our holiday park community and keeping them entertained.
Governing Board of Directors
The 54 acres that Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park sits on is owned by Nelson City Council and leased back to the Tāhuna Camp Incorporated Society to run the Park. Anyone can be a member of the society. The Board is elected from the society members or co-opted on, and board members serve two-year terms.
Steve Cross – Chair
Melinda Harvey - Deputy Chair
Dennis Christian
Melanie Madden
John Murray
Joy Schackleton
Left to right: Joy, John, Melanie, Steve, Melinda and Dennis.