About East Auckland Tourism
East Auckland Tourism is an organisation setup and supported by Howick Local Board & Auckland Unlimited (formerly ATEED) to promote and guide tourism to our East Auckland suburbs.
East Auckland has a rich colonial history, stunning beaches, is home to a great café culture and a wide range of restaurants plus some unique business and shopping options. Locals are very proud of their community. We are excited about lifting the profile of the East Auckland Region by showcasing it to a wider audience and making information easy to find.
THE 2021/2022 MANAGEMENT CONSISTS OF 7 ELECTED MEMBERS AND A TEAM CO-ORDINATOR
Chairperson: Andrew Laing
Auckland born and lived in Howick since 1992 I am passionate about our region and spend many hours in our amazing outdoor spaces. I have a sense of community and am a member of various local organizations.
With the arrival of Covid19 I saw some new opportunities and am owner operator of Howick Deliveries which makes shopping easy in East Auckland in this click and collect world. I am also involved with a vegan cheese business whose award winning products are available at local health food stores and some supermarkets.
I have a travel and tourism background and worked in Howick for many years. I am owner of Travel by Nature which offers tailor made tours specialising in outdoor experiences. I work closely with a local boat charter business that aims to develop into a significant local tourism player on our amazing Hauraki Gulf.
I am excited about the unique opportunities East Auckland presents and look forward to overseas visitors returning to our shores, and to welcoming them to some of Auckland’s best kept secrets.
Treasurer : Damian Light
A keen tourist, Damian has travelled throughout New Zealand and around the globe, always returning to Auckland where he was born and raised. Moving to East Auckland with his partner who grew up here, Damian quickly fell in love with the people and places.
For more than 15 years, Damian has worked in business improvement, using structured problem solving to lift performance for customers, staff and shareholders. He is on the board of a number of commercial and not-for-profit organisations and a member of the NZ Institute of Directors.
With a passion for history, diversity and the environment, Damian has become a vocal champion for East Auckland and is proud to promote this unique part of the world.
I have been a very happy resident of East Auckland for 18 years.
East Auckland is an amazing place to live and explore, and I look forward to visitors enjoying our region again and again. Great to bring people our way to enjoy this stunning region.
I own and have operated HAPPY NZ TOURS since 2007. A Tourism New Zealand certified New Zealand specialist and professional member of Pro Guides New Zealand.
I love meeting people and exploring places. My enthusiasm for tourism blends corporate professionalism, local knowledge and personal touch to create lasting memories for visitors and guests. Always a pleasure to serve people and communities.
Board Member : Britta Saxer
Let me introduce myself. I am Britta Saxer, and I run my own Web Design company Saxer Design with passion.
I spend my days helping companies to succeed online. I listen first, learn about a company, and understand their way of doing business before developing a convincing website and everything that goes with it. Important to me is that every online presence needs to be personal and relevant, so I use authentic photography to support the design. I could not do this work without a big portion of enthusiasm and creativity. It’s a great industry to work in, as it presents new challenges all the time. I have more than 20 years of experience and led numerous projects in Germany and New Zealand.
My company built this website for East Auckland Tourism. Me and my team are proud of the result and the visitor numbers reflect the success of this site. I hope you are enjoying this website too.
Board Member : Sarah Blong
A Whitford resident for 10 years, having grown up in Pakuranga, Gisborne and Bucklands Beach, I am passionate about our East Auckland Region and its potential. My first job was as a travel agent and then I joined the Hyatt in reservations, so hospitality is in my blood. I followed a teaching career for many years, and have enjoyed living in this wonderful area, and being involved with the local community.
Our family business, Paradice Entertainment, provides local entertainment at Botany with our ice rink and other activities, and has been in existence since the early 70s. Our family is heavily invested in the region and in tourism.
I see East Auckland as a destination of choice in its own right, with the opportunity for businesses, both hospitality and others, to thrive. With the size and quality of East Auckland events becoming bigger and better, there is good reason for visitors to enjoy our region right through the year.
I look forward to our borders opening soon, our unique and beautiful region being discovered and enjoyed, and our local economy thriving as a result.
Board Member : Sanjay Luthra
I immigrated to New Zealand in 2001 with my family and fell in love with this beautiful country. I’ve worked in various industries ranging from transport to supply chain. In 2012 I decided to work for myself so joined hands with a franchise café in Meadowlands.
In 2017 I established my own brand, Ormiston Café, which I can proudly say is a very community focused café. I am one of the directors at the first flower café in Auckland, Divine Patisserie, which offers a unique high tea experience. The soft, romantic decor has offered a perfect location for many marriage proposals.
I have greatly enjoyed watching our region develop, with many cultures bringing in a colourful diversity to East Auckland.
After 20 years of business ownership in the IT industry, I started Hello SEO with the aim of assisting businesses with their online journey – to achieve maximum potential from their website.
To achieve that success, I take time to learn as much as I can about the businesses that I work with. Having hands-on knowledge of various business environments in New Zealand, together with my listening skills and an intimate understanding of the workings of search engines like Google, I can ensure online success for my clients.
My biggest accomplishment is having run a successful business (Base10 Ltd), taking it full cycle from humble beginnings to an ultimate successful sale and leading an awesome team of up to 14 staff. At Hello SEO I work directly and hands-on with my clients.
I now enjoy spending more time with my family and I’m finally learning to play classical guitar, a dream that was brewing for some time.
I moved to New Zealand in 1998, one of the many immigrants that make up our diverse East Auckland region. Howick’s unique village atmosphere and community proved impossible to ignore, and we are so grateful to be living here. The spectacular views across the Hauraki Gulf, proximity to some amazing walks and the beautiful Pohutukawa Coast and Clevedon areas, as well as the different cultures found here make East Auckland an amazing place.
In the last 20 years there have been a lot of changes in the region. Our local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and tourism industry, have had a seriously challenging time through Covid. However, as life opens up once more there are endless possibilities and potential for growth. We just need to grab those opportunities.
Working alongside other passionate locals striving to see our region thrive, I look forward to seeing East Auckland grow and prosper as our post Covid world emerges.
EAST AUCKLAND TOURISM BACKGROUND
