Meet Our Team

Hi, I’m a third generation born and bred kiwi. My father was a bit of a gypsy which meant we travelled a lot and I grew up in a variety of places. This is how I developed the passion for travel and exploring new places. I currently live in the best region within New Zealand – The Bay of Plenty – at a spectacular seaside resort called Mount Maunganui – and I love it. I co-founded Zealandier Tours back in 2006 and over the years we have developed this business into a totally family run travel hub. We are all passionate about not only our region, but all of New Zealand. National Geographic call us the “World in Miniature” and it is such an appropriate title as we have something to offer everybody who visits.

I am most passionate about sharing our local iwi – Maori people’s stories and culture, along with our active geothermal volcanic zone and abundance of natural resources. I was a nurse in my first life (as I call it), business developments next and tourism has been my third vocation of choice. Its been a great transition from each vocation to now, I am caring, I am business focused and passionate about our country, people and travel.

We cater to many types of traveller, – cruise ship passenger shore excursions, local elderly traveller, inbound international traveller, transport transfers, conference delegates and partners tours, outbound traveller and the faith based pilgrimage traveller. I am surrounded by a fantastic team of people who make this business all possible.

Mike is the visionary behind Zealandier Tours. Zealandier has a vision which is never static. It is that which turns dreams into possibilities and possibilities into realities. The vision gives us direction, motivation, creativity and resilience.

I’m married to the most patient man in the world. We have two daughters, 2 horses, 2 ponies, 4 lambs, 2 cats and a dog. I lived in the USA and Australia for a time but came back home to settle down. There is no place in the world like NZ. I work from home, enjoy my surroundings of natural forest and totally love my lifestyle. Travel is in my blood – I am Jan’s daughter, and born to travel.

Born and raised locally in the Bay of Plenty. I grew up on a Kiwifruit Orchard and have experienced the highs and lows of the industry. I have worked in transport for a number of years and have been nearly 5 years in the tourism industry and just love it. Its exciting and challenging and I sometimes get to hostess on the tours. I recently got to enjoy my very first cruise which was so exciting. I have 2 beautiful little girls and juggle work & family life. I am Jan’s daughter in law and also love to travel. I truly believe we live in the most beautiful country and am passionate about our stunning part of the world.”

I’ve been fascinated by people and places ever since studying Geography at university. For most of my life, I have led group tours throughout New Zealand and overseas. In recent years I have helped people enjoy the delights of Australia, Canada, USA, the Middle East and our own wonderful part of the world – the Bay of Plenty. I am married to Katrina, have three children and nine grandchildren. My interests are conservation, running, kayaking, mountain-biking and genealogy.

I was born & schooled in Dunedin. Originally a banker who served in both North and South Island. Later became owner/operator of Mr Whippy,a mobile ice cream franchise and a kiwifruit orchard contracting business which both kept me busy. My interests are wide & varied. An avid All Blacks rugby sports fan and keen on cricket & trout fishing.Proud member of a local LIONS club. Totally committed to my partner Jude, and have 2 adult children, Christopher,a Lawyer & Pippa,a Beef & Sheep farmer. I am totally blessed with 5 grandchildren.

I am a third generaration New Zealander. My great grandfather migrated here in 1860 with his wife as part of the Brittish Armed Forces and settled into Katikati, so I am a born and bred local. I chose a career in road manangement transport, married Shirley and we have 2 daughters and 6 gandchildren. Retirement is something that I know about but choose not to participate of. I am busy enjoying looking after my 38 acres of land, or driving big rigs or guiding tours to contemplate retirement. I have had a life long involvement with Missions and have spent some time living and working up in Papua New Guinea. I love to be around people far too much to stay at home and look forward to sharing my knowledge & stories with you on one of my tours.

I’m another South Island Mainlander – initially, but have spent many years now living here in the Bay of Plenty. I have a background in newspaper & later owned a menswear retail shop. I have been hosting visitors from the cruise ships since 2005 on the many tours that are available from the Port of Tauranga to Rotorua, Waitomo, Hobbiton and many other tourist attraction sites within the region. We are aptly named with plenty to appeal to everybody. I have a relaxed touring style that ensures that you have an enjoyable day visiting all the main points of interest, and provide enough information about the area that would be of interest to you.

Originally from UK but have been a New Zealander for 60 years. (so I think I can call myself a local now). I have lived with my wife Noeline in Tauranga for over 18 years following a career in aviation both in NZ and overseas. We have two adult children and 2 grandchildren. For the past 7 years I have worked as a Tour Guide taking passengers from the cruise ships at the port of Tauranga on excursions to Rotorua and to the Hobbiton Movie Set. My favorite Zealandier tour is to the Hobbiton Movie set. Why you may ask ? Because many tourists are on a pilgrimage or “have a must do on their bucket list” so they are animated and show enthusiasm and excitement, which makes for a fun day ‘tour’ for both of us.

I was born in England and came to New Zealand’s South island as a young child. We moved to the Waikato in the North Island where I completed my schooling and a management degree and then owned a bookshop. I met and married Carena and in 1986 the family started working with the Baptist church in starting new churches and restoring ones that were fading and we are still involved today. Stephen and Carena have lived in Tauranga in the lovely Bay of Plenty for the past 23 years and are now living at Omokoroa ( a beach suburb 25kms north of the city ) enjoying the beach and scenery. I have been a bus driver for a number of years and over the past four have been a tour guide for Zealandier Tours.

Most of my working life I have been employed in the Tourism & Hospitality industry. I have managed lodges, worked as a Purser on a cruise ship and behind a bar so have worked with quite a diverse range of people from many cultures. Over the past 7 years I have been fortunate enough to work for Zealandier Tours as a driver guide which I enjoy immensely.Being born in the Bay of Plenty region I have a great connection with the Culture and also extensive knowledge of this area.I live in the beautiful beach resort of Mt Maunganui with my husband and our families who live close by. We both love fishing and enjoy the outdoors and being out on the water.

I am a third generation Kiwi with my forbears arriving from the UK to start a new life. I have been born and bred in Tauranga and spent the majority of my life here. Exceptions to this have been a year in the UK studying with a Rotary Scholarship, a year in PNG working for a large communications company, and 31/2 years in Rotorua (the thermal capital of NZ) where I owned and operated a Motel business. My time there gave me huge exposure to the travel industry. My ongoing passion is to give people a positive experience as they visit NZ, and helping them leave with treasured memories and the desire to return. I love travel and fresh fruit icecream!

Kia Ora, I’m a fifth generation New Zealander. Apart from six years in Auckland, I have lived all my life in the aptly named Bay of Plenty region where I enjoy fishing, camping, biking and walking. I’ve had a varied working life starting with a career in banking,  held various management roles, truck driver, forklift driver and I have finally found my passion as a tour guide/driver with Zealandier Tours.  I am passionate about New Zealand, our history and Maori Culture. My favourite tour is to Whakarewarewa Village in Rotorua where Maori still live among the geothermal activity and continue to use these resources as their ancestors did. My focus is always looking after our visitors and insuring they have the best possible experience while touring with Zealandier Tours.

I have been living in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand for 30 years now and love it. Up until I retired, I had been employed in the Cabinetmaking and Kitchen manufacturing industry. I owned my own kitchen manufacturing business for the last 16 years and finally retired at the end of last year. I enjoyed the challenges associated with the industry which included meeting many different people. Since retiring I have missed the contact with people and as I also enjoy driving decided it would be a natural progression to become a tour guide. I have been lucky enough to have secured a position with Zealandier Tours and so would love to share with you the great things about New Zealand and especially the region I live in.

I was brought up on dairy farms in the Bay and am married with 2 children and 6 grandchildren. I served in the navy for ten years and on leaving I went to Nauru to be a shift supervisor at the phosphate works calcination plant. After that my family and I lived in Auckland where I worked at various engineering and boat building jobs. We bought the remaining family land in Te Puna where I continued engineering before moving on to grow export flowers and run my distribution company. In 2004 I began driving buses for urban and charter work. I retired in 2018 but after six months I came back to Zealandier to offer my services and share my knowledge and experiences to the cruise ship passengers.

Hello, I am a 2nd generation born and bred New Zealander. I was raised as a child into the farming industry in the local town of Te Puke. I have done quite a lot of traveling overseas. I have worked in sales for over 40 years and then one day decided to have a change in my career. I attained my class 2 licence along with a Passenger endorsement and decided to drive a bus. I drove school children to and fro for 6 years, but as I am a people person, I decided to be become a Tourist Guide and I have never looked back. I love every moment of meeting new people and sharing my local stories. I have 2 daughters & 1 son, and 6 beautiful grandchildren.

I came to New Zealand back in the 1950’s as one of the Ten Pound Poms who immigrated from England for 10 pounds to become Dairy Farmers in the mighty Waikato.

Following my Secondary School education I chose a career in Banking and spent a number of years in the Waikato, Manawatu and Wellington branches.

Later I became a Real Estate agent and moved to the always loved Bay of Plenty. I have been on a number of overseas tours which I have thoroughly enjoyed and sincerely hope that you thoroughly enjoy yours too. Of course a VERY Keen rugby supporter.

Originally from Germany, my wife Gabi and I emigrated to the beautiful Bay of Plenty New Zealand in 1999, where we had our son a few years later. I am a trained automotive engineer and worked for the last 18 years as an automotive tutor in Tauranga and Whakatane. My family and I live on a small lifestyle block accompanied by a dog and 4 chickens. I began as a tour guide with Zealandier Tours in 2018. Through my passion of the outdoors and outdoor activities, specifically white-water kayaking (in my younger days!) and my love of travel, I was drawn to share a slice of ‘New Zealand paradise’ with you. I am always excited to meet new people from different places of the world and I hope to see you soon!

Hi I’m Steve, a very proud New Zealander. I grew up and was educated in Wellington – our capital city. In my early 20’s I set off to London (UK) for work and discovered the rest of the globe whenever I could, travelling to many countries including the USA, Canada, Central America, Asia, Europe as well as Egypt, Morocco, Turkey.  I returned home to Aotearoa NZ in my late 20’s and realised just how amazing this clean-green little country of ours is and what it offers us in terms of lifestyle and the great outdoors. Our small country has so much to see and do and is well known as a nation of friendly people. Let me be your ambassador for the day in showing you around two great regions, the Bay of Plenty and Waikato during your stay.

Munchen the bear was born in Munich in Germany in 2010 and has travelled to Greece, Australia, Norfolk Island and Israel as well as many other places around New Zealand (and has the badges to show for it). He often comes on Zealandiers’ tours especially to Rotorua with Stephen. He is a great friend and companion especially to the younger children on the tours.