After more than forty years’ service to education Steve has applied his transferable skills in Educational Leadership to the Real Estate industry. Combining these skills with experience in living on both viticultural and small farming blocks provides Steve with a sound understanding of rural and lifestyle real estate. 

Although spending twenty of his first twenty-five years raised in Wellington, Steve has never forgotten his Taranaki roots and often reflects on the school holiday visits back to his birthplace, along with the joys of working on his uncle’s dairy farm in Cardiff, close to his maunga – Taranaki. This strong bind to his homeland was rekindled in 1984 when he returned as a primary school teacher for the next five years. 

Leadership opportunities beckoned Steve to move to Marlborough where he has spent the past 34+ years of his teaching career as a school principal and assistant principal. Steve’s journey as a principal began in Okaramio and apart from a six-year service to St. Mary’s School in Blenheim as an Assistant Principal, Steve has held office as a principal to a few rural, semi-rural and town schools across Marlborough. Steve’s most recent appointment has been fourteen years’ service to the Fairhall School community. 

Steve has maintained positive connections with Ward, Awatere, and Fairhall communities and during these times has built a reputation based on integrity, respect, and working to be the best you can. As a leader, Steve has maintained high levels of communication and positive relationships with people from a range of community backgrounds making him a respected and approachable person. 

Steve has a love for the land and alongside wife, Rosemary, has enjoyed the joys, and challenges, of owning their own farming and lifestyle blocks. Steve and Rosemary have four sons, all of whom have grown up and now living in Marlborough with their wives and children, we are also blessed with 10 grandchildren. 

Rugby has been a huge part of Steve’s life having played representative rugby for Taranaki and Marlborough, as well as one game for the West Coast (against Marlborough) and age grade representation for Wellington. He has been prominent as a premier coach with Awatere and Central for several years and was the inaugural coach for the East Coast, Marlborough premier side during Awatere’s absence from Division One rugby scene. Steve also coached the Marlborough representative team – the Red Devils for two seasons. Nowadays Steve’s love of sport involves watching from the side-line, whether it be a college 1^st XV or club game or, more importantly cheering along his grandchildren.