ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There’s no way I could do what I do without the help and support of a whole lot of people. I’d like to thank everyone who has had a part in getting me to where I am today – without you I wouldn’t be able to run.

The following people have all helped me in numerous ways so thanks to: Inge and Marcel Vercammen from Van Dyck’s; Murray and Jane Dick from Taranaki Engineering; Darrell Back from Taranaki Steelformers; Paul Bolte and Stuart Wilkinson from Bartercard; Marco Streibel from Buff Headwear; Kerry and Sarah Hamilton; the More FM crew – Anne Meyer, Renata Hayward, Mark Jamieson, Beth and Waggs and rest of the team; Frontrunner New Plymouth – Kelvin and Michelle Giddy, Paul Ballinger; Neale and Fiona Parkinson and Richard Valentine at Bayleys Real Estate; Red 8 – Jim and Robena Bedwell; Malcolm Stobie and the Thompson’s Nutrition team; Bruce from Adviso Ltd; Kendall North Nutrition; Lauren Hann from Hanns On massage; Fire Design; David Casey and Angela Koot from Big Media; Will Hinchcliff and the team at EECP Primary Heart Care; Angus Campbell; Megan, John and Cameron Stewart at Mobilize; City Fitness, especially Neil and Sam Wagstaff; Mayor Peter and Rosemary Tennent; Howie Tamati; Gordon Brown; Bruce Richards; Ross Fanthorpe and the team from Govett Quilliam lawyers; Bridget Burke; all my fashion show models; Greg ‘Mr Pumpkin’ Edley; Glenn Edley and Spikemail; Shane Cameron; Phil and Elsa Kingsley Jones; Eileen Tamati; all the Biz at Home ladies; Alex Mckenzie; John and Val Muskett; Mike Scott; Rob Tucker; Cameron Brewer and the Newmarket Business Association; adidas especially Kayne Henderson; Nic McCloy my wonderful author; Abba Renshaw and the whole Allen and Unwin team; Hemi Takarua; Glen Osborne; Debbie Longhurst; Don and Leonie Crow; Irena Brooks; Murray Chong and Karen Upson; Sandwich Extreme; TK and Piri Wano; Whare and Emma Wano; Peter Tainui; Liam Courtenay; Sam Scannell; Dr Andrew Kilding; Kelly Sheerin; Eileen Tamati; Sharon Jones; and Stars Travel.

A big thank you to my wonderful Death Valley crewmembers Megan Stewart, Sandy Barwick, Neil Wagstaff, Chris Cruikshank, Gerhard Lusskandl, Howard Dell, Casey Potatau and Jaron Mumby; To my dearly loved family: Mum Isobel, Dad Cyril, Dawson, Mitchell, Aunty Peggy, James, Kim and Victoria. Thank you for being their through the good and the bad times, for your stability, your love, your dedication, your tolerance and understanding. For believing in me and helping me up when I stumbled. I will love you all forever.

Mum you have given up your life for us kids you are the most precious person in the world. Dad you loved us with all your heart, and fought for us always, sacrificing much on the way. Thank you.

To Gerhard: you are part of my soul and I will carry you forever in my heart. Thank you for everything.