Committee

David Abbott (chair)

david-abbottI have been a resident of St Mary’s Bay since 1985, along with my wife Bronwen and our two children.

I was educated in Auckland and overseas, returning from overseas to take up law practice in Auckland in 1979. I have had a long career in law, in law firms, later as barrister, and lastly as a judge (recently retired).

I had various local community involvements before being appointed a judge: as a supporter of the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Centre in its formative years, as convenor of legal rosters in the Ponsonby and Grey Lynn Citizens Advice Bureaus for many years, and as member of the Western Bays Community Committee for a short time in 1980s.

I have active interests in the arts (as supporter), sport (also as supporter), food and wine, and travel. I spent some years working with a youth opera group (including forming it into a charitable trust and being one of its trustees), and was President of the University of Auckland’s alumni organisation for several years. I believe in developing active, caring communities through building relationships and identifying common interests.

Cameron Loader (treasurer)

cameron-loaderCameron is a recent recruit to St Marys Bay, having been resident since 2011.

He has been involved in the commercial property and investment world all his working life, and this has helped inspire his love of good built form – something that St Mary’s Bay offers to him on those days he manages to walk to work.

His appetite for great wine and food means he has landed in the right Auckland suburb, and the view of the harbour keeps fuelling his and his wife Ali's love of travel.

Alison Hunter (Secretary)


I consider myself very privileged to live in St Marys Bay. This little suburb offers so much – connectivity, views, character and a strong sense of community. I have a passion for the built environment (both new and old) and have been involved in all aspects of commercial property for a number of years. More recently I have turned my hand to residential development management – a multi-unit townhouse project in Freemans Bay. I ‘enjoy’ falling off my SUP board in St Marys Bay and cycling the new board walks in Westhaven.

William (Bill) Peake

Bill has resided in St Marys for 25 years

He has a career growing businesses and brands in large corporates, and his own ventures in the food and advertising industries.

He was inducted into the NZ Marketing Hall of Fame, and today is an active investor and advisor to early stage businesses.

Brian Putt

Brian is a highly respected town planner and an expert in urban settlement and rural management. He regularly assists community groups in planning disputes. Recently, Brian (pro bono) prepared and filed expert evidence in support of the St Mary’s Bay Association submission on the Plan 26 special character overlay change to the Unitary plan. He also appeared at the hearing.

Elected to the SMBA committee in 2020, Brian is now semi-retired and has the time to devote to the challenges facing the SMBA. In particular, his expertise will be valuable in the many town planning issues before the committee, including an additional harbour crossing (potential adverse effects), maintenance of heritage values and open space management.

Sean Molloy

I am a valuer and property consultant. I have lived in the inner city since the 1960s, with a shift to Saint Mary’s Bay in the 1980s to renovate a villa.

At that time the housing stock was quite rundown but like other inner city suburbs it has been rejuvenated over the last 15 years. St Marys bay has a very special flavour, with its small sites , close linkages to Westhaven, the central city and the Ponsonby Road refreshment strip. Please join the association and support our efforts to preserve your special suburb.

John Hill

john-hillJohn is a Life Member (past Chair and Secretary of the St Mary’s Bay Association), architect, and over-involved in St Mary's Bay matters since 1975.

He played an active role in the design of the Westhaven Marina and the Victoria Park Tunnel, and is still working to improve this unique suburb and its environment.

Mark Gascoigne


Mark Gascoigne is a registered architect who has worked and lived in and around Ponsonby for more than 30 years. For the last 14 years he has been living in St Marys Bay with his wife and two children (who have recently both flown the coop).

Mark set out to become a famous musician but detoured via theatre into architecture. He still dabbles enthusiastically with music on the side by playing the guitar in his "50 Hurtz" rock band and still hopes to become at least slightly famous before he goes deaf or bald.

In his day job Mark specialises in retail design and has designed stores for most of New Zealand's better known retail chains plus a large number of cafes, hotels and restaurants, as well as a few shopping malls. His work also takes him to Australia and Asia. He is currently involved with the Auckland Council committee appointed to come up with a 30 year plan for the future of Ponsonby Road.

In any spare time you might find him walking around our beautiful neighbourhood, skiing in Wanaka, riding his enduro bike at Woodhill Forest or with his nose in a good book.

Trevor Hackett

My wife Ann and I moved from Titirangi to the beauty of St Marys Bay, after our boys left home 28 years ago. As keen yachties, to be able to walk down to our vessel in Westhaven fulfilled a dream.

I am an accountant and manufacturing engineer and a lifetime motorcyclist, whenever possible attending rallies on one of my classic machines.

I am determined to see our community remain the jewel of Auckland, as once lost our paradise cannot be reclaimed.