Neil Harray
Kia ora koutou katoa,
I am very pleased to be part of the Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Board as the Club President. The outstanding work that Dave Litton has done over the last 10 years has certainly shaped the role and forged the way forward.
As a born-and-bred Katikati local, I am very fortunate to call Waihi Beach home now. We have been part of the club since 2011, and four of the Harray family are all lifeguards—with me being the odd one out.
I enjoy being involved in surf sports, having coached Junior Surf, specifically beach events, from 2013 to 2020. It is nice to see our Lifeguards using their range of skills in the sporting arena - whatever sport that may be. More recently, we have been involved in the IRB Rescue and surf boats teams, which has been exciting to get so close to the action.
I am currently the Principal of Te Aroha College, but I have also worked for the Education Review Office (ERO) and as Principal at Katikati College.
I look forward to sharing my passion for developing young people, bringing the community together to build resilience, and supporting all those who are part of this great club.
Donna Pfefferle
I am excited to continue working with a passionate and proactive Club and Board to support the delivery of outstanding patrol and rescue services for Waihi Beach and surrounding communities. Strengthening resilience and capability through robust training programmes for our lifeguards, volunteers, members, and local communities is a continued priority. We must be ready for the next challenge, as statistics suggest we are likely to face more adverse weather events in the future.
The club's sustainability is a priority, as Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Inc. marked 90 years of operation in November 2025. We must ensure that the next ninety years are financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable.
I hold a business degree and have experience in marketing and human resources. I was recently recognised as the Western Bay of Plenty Volunteer of the Year 2025. This award reinforces what can be achieved when individuals come together for the betterment of others.
In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
Nick Wagstaff
I am a dedicated leader with extensive experience across Surf Life Saving operations. As a board member at Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services, I focus on capability development, risk management, and delivering meaningful community impact.
I have held senior leadership roles within Surf Life Saving New Zealand, overseeing large teams, coordinating multi-agency SAR responses, and leading national projects that strengthen lifesaving services.
I enjoy building high performing teams, developing resilient systems, and ensuring our services remain sustainable, effective, and trusted to protect our communities.
Aron May
I joined Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services in 2017 when my children became involved in the junior surf programme, and soon after qualified as a lifeguard. Since then, I have remained actively involved in the club, regularly patrolling throughout the season, while also contributing as a member of the local Search and Rescue squad.
Surf lifesaving is a strong family commitment. My wife, Mari, is returning this season to manage the Junior Surf sports programme. Our two eldest sons are now lifeguards, and our daughter continues to participate in the Junior Surf programme.
In my professional capacity, I am employed by a Hamilton based engineering company specialising in automation. I have a background in Automation Engineering and currently work in a sales role.
I’m excited to be joining the Board as Director of Assets for the coming season and look forward to contributing to the ongoing development and sustainability of the club’s equipment and facilities.
Maddie Schnackenberg
I I’m passionate about all things sport and lifeguarding and will be celebrating my 10th season as a lifeguard later in 2026. Prior to taking up my role as Director of Sport, I chaired the Sport Committee and later the Lifesaving Committee, before spending eighteen months on the Board as an Independent Director.
I’m now incredibly proud to be Director of Sport. We have a fantastic bunch of athletes, sport families, and volunteers at Waihi Beach, and I love working alongside them in this role. My goal in this portfolio is to ensure all of our athletes can achieve their goals and grow both as people and athletes. My highlight will always be getting down to competitions and cheering on our athletes as they put into action all the skills they’ve built throughout the season.
Outside of the Board, I am a Surf Life Saving NZ facilitator and Waihi’s delegate on the Coromandel Local Lifesaving Committee. Outside of surf lifesaving, I also have a “real job” working in corporate tax advisory.
Jenny Barrett
I joined the club in 2015 when my daughters started the Junior Surf programme. Growing up in land-locked Birmingham in the UK, I had zero knowledge of the sport and only the vaguest idea of what lifeguarding involved.
How things change.
I’m now the proud mum of two lifeguards, have a husband who spends his weekends fixing ‘dings’, and am a surf official who knows more than I ever thought possible about the correct starting position for flags.
Over the years, I've repeatedly been blown away by all that Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services does for the community and the opportunities it creates for young people coming through as athletes and lifeguards.
When I’m not at the club, I put words together for a living so I' m excited to be stepping into the communications role and Natalie’s hard-to-fill jandals. I look forward to sharing our club’s achievements, projects, and the stories of our people, connecting our members, families, sponsors, and wider community.
Kate Jackson
My husband grew up in Waihi Beach, and we moved down from Auckland last year. My now eight-year-old daughter joined Junior Surf last year, and I expect her to be involved in the club for many years to come. As we settled into beach life, I became keen to find an organisation that I could contribute my skills to.
As a CIMA qualified accountant, I have deep experience in budgeting and forecasting, governance frameworks, and risk management across both commercial and not-for-profit sectors. My most recent role was as CEO at Mount Wellington Licensing Trust Group, a complex community owned organisation, and prior to that in various GM Finance / Finance Manager roles.
Natalie Lloyd
Since joining the Board in 2011, I have contributed across a range of areas at Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services, drawing on my background in public relations, editing, marketing and communications, as well as event management and stakeholder engagement.
My Board involvement has included strengthening the Club’s communications, supporting member and community engagement, and helping raise the Club’s profile through media, social media and newsletters. More recently, I have been focused on special projects, including archiving and history work that helps preserve and share the story of our Club for future generations.
As an Independent Director, I bring long-standing knowledge of the Club, governance experience and a strong commitment to supporting the Board’s work and the Club’s long-term future.
Christiaan Maarhius
I have been a passionate lifeguard for over 30 years, with experience at Waihi Beach and Hot Water Beach. Waihi Beach is my Club, and I have been an active volunteer in many senior roles. From Lifeguard Coordinator initiating many positive changes in the lifeguarding systems, developing safety practices, and driving club culture. I have been a Patrol Captain and implemented the Master’s Patrol, safety officer at numerous SLSNZ and community events, and supported Board projects and initiatives.
Having the experience as a Head Regional Guard at different beaches, elected Chair of the Coromandel Lifeguarding Committee, Patrol Auditor, SLG Examiner, Instructor and other leadership opportunities have provided me with the opportunity and the skills to help inspire other lifeguards to achieve greatness.
Having another lifeguard on the Board and guiding them regarding safety, systems, and the development of SLSNZ strategies has helped the Board achieve many positive outcomes. There is much work that I would like to be still involved in at a strategic level. My passion is to initiate positive changes, future-proof Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services to meet the community's needs, and engage in strategic thinking.
Lucy Scown
I am very lucky to have grown up in Waihi Beach and have been a member of Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services since 2011. I started as a junior surf nipper, and since then, I have competed as a junior and senior surf athlete in both surf sports, and later, my sister Maddie and I competed in IRB racing.
After becoming a lifeguard, I fell in love with everything related to surf lifesaving and, since qualifying, have been involved in a range of roles, including Patrol Captain, Chief SLGA Instructor, Patrol Auditor, Lifesaving Committee Chair, IRB Coordinator, Junior Surf Coach, SLGA and IRB examiner, and Coromandel Lifesaving Committee representative. Recently, I was inducted as an Eastern Region Duty Officer.
I was elected to the Board in 2022 as the Director of Lifeguarding and am looking forward to stepping into my new role as an Independent Director. I thoroughly enjoy working with lifeguards and the rest of our Waihi Beach Surf Club family to achieve greatness in delivering our professional services and focusing on the future so we can support the Waihi Beach community.