28
CHANNEL INTERVIEW: David Abercrombie
In Channel Magazine we love interviewing progressive North Shore people. Those people who play a significant part in the community and help to make the Shore such a great place to live. One such person is Takapuna resident David Abercrombie, the Chief Executive for Yachting New Zealand. The Abercrombie name is wellknown on the Shore, especially in sporting circles. David is the uncle of leading basketballer Thomas Abercrombie, and many others in the clan have also tasted success in sports and related fields. David Abercrombie grew up on the Shore, attending Westlake Boys High School. He graduated from ATI with a Diploma in Physiotherapy and this became his profession. David then completed a postgraduate year in Canada and, after travelling and working, returned to set up a private physio practise in Milford. Prior to moving into the yachting role, he was instrumental in setting up HealthZone (the health centre at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health in Mairangi Bay), in conjunction with Doctor John Mayhew. He has been involved in the continued development and provision of health services to many of our high performance athletes. Abercrombie also spent many years as the physio for the All Blacks, and from 1995 to 2009 he joined America’s Cup yachting, working with both Team New Zealand (1995-2003) and BMW Oracle Racing (2004-2009). He attended two Olympic regattas as the physiotherapist to the New Zealand yachting team, at Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 - appointments which prompted an interest in other areas of high performance sport. David is a keen surfer, paddle-boarder and boatie – a power boat occupies his garage and a Bavaria 46 is kept on Bayswater Marina. Channel Magazine’s Aidan Bennett had this chat with David Abercrombie during September:
David and Michelle Abercrombie.
tte and son James.
David Abercrombie with daughter Charlo
David Abercrombie
Yachting New Zealand’s CEO Loving Life on the Shore Although I have been involved in business and sport on the North Shore for over 20 years, I had never actually met David Abercrombie before. So, to tie in with the spotlight we have on our local yacht clubs (see following spread), I thought it was appropriate to interview ‘Abo’, as he is affectionately known by many. He obviously now plays a significant role in New Zealand Yachting and is also a “Shore” person through and through. David Abercrombie was actually born in Scotland. As the name suggests, he comes from Scottish stock. His parents emigrated to New Zealand when his dad joined the New Zealand Navy. Elder brother Colin (father of Thomas) was born in New Zealand, after which the Abercrombie’s returned to Scotland, and David was born. Younger brother Iain (the former Auckland rugby hooker) was born when they returned to New Zealand a few years later. The family lived in Campbells Bay with all three boys attending Westlake Boys. Apart from stints overseas, David Abercrombie has made his home in Milford or Takapuna ever since. He is passionate about the place. Home for David and his wife Michelle these days is just a short stroll away from his beloved Takapuna Beach. He admits to being on the beach most days and at least three days a week he can be found Stand Up Paddling with his brother, Colin and friend, Dean Revell. David has four children: Scott (24), Nigel (22), James (13) and Charlotte (9). “I have travelled extensively and I believe we are truly blessed with the natural environment we have in Takapuna,” says David. “It is as good as any place in the
world and it is a thrill to see some exciting plans taking shape for its future. It’s no secret that we haven’t made the most of it in the past, but the enhancements being introduced by people, such as Dave Donaldson and Peter Wall – driving the National Ocean Water Sports Centre, and Alan Wiltshire and John Copson with their own exciting plans for turning Takapuna towards the beach, means that the future for Takapuna is looking very bright. The potential is unbelievable. Having travelled to a number of waterfront cities around the world, we are way behind and this can be attributed to the fact that opponents see the change at a cost of losing reserves and beaches. But this is not the case. These great steps are being driven by people who understand the need to look after the natural environment.” Osteoarthritis in his hands led David Abercrombie to move from physiotherapy to yachting administration almost a year ago. While he still retains a majority shareholding in HealthZone, having a full time practice manager there means he has now turned his focus full time to sports management. In truth it has been a few years since David Abercrombie has spent most of his time at HealthZone. America’s Cup yachting has played a big part in his life over the past 15 years. He first joined Team New Zealand as physiotherapist in 1995 in San Diego for the America’s Cup and subsequent Cups through to 2004. This yachting association continued with a slightly more international flavour, with joining BMW Oracle Racing at the end of 2007 when Chris Dickson was CEO. In 2010 he returned from spending 18 months in Spain and the USA with his family, where he was involved with the build-up to the 33rd America’s Cup.
…the future for Takapuna is looking very bright. The potential is unbelievable.
Issue 15 - OCTOBER 2011 www.channelmag.co.nz