Our People
John Shaw
Born in Auckland and I have been surfing now for nearly 30 years. I still surf all year round mainly across the Auckland region, at Piha, Karekare or on Auckland’s north east coast.
I am happily married to Kathleen and we have two healthy boys.
Sadly neither of them surf (as yet). My life has always included a
healthy dose of outdoor sports and I was until recently, an active
tennis player. I gave this up to ensure injury would not prevent me
from surfing for many more years to come. My attitude is that "it
is always better wet than dry, no matter what the conditions".
My working life has predominantly been in sales. After six years
in the travel game I spent many years selling and marketing branded
grocery goods to supermarket chains. A few years ago I made a
lifestyle change in to the real estate industry. Kathleen and I
sell residential real estate with Barfoot & Thompson in central
Auckland (no coastal sales so no conflict of interest with
Surfbreak). Kathleen has also started a fashion business designing,
making and selling fashion coats for women.
I am proud to be on the committee of Surfbreak Protection. As a
passionate surfer I want to contribute to ensure that my generation
and future generations can continue to enjoy the freedom of our
awesome surfing coastline the way I have, for many years to
come.
Too often, (so called) coastal development has not been for the
enhancement of our coast as many developers would try and have us
believe. It has been so that the privileged few can monster the
coastline with structures from which they can make vast sums of
money - by building marinas, other vast boating facilities and what
I call suburbs away from home. The 'Auckland suburb' of Omaha is a
very good example.