Newsletter - July 2024

Winter is upon us and that means juggling your sporting activities amongst the wet can be challenging.  We are making great progress in moving the Project forward with some funding secured for the Motorsports Complex. Read about it below.

The Equine Complex is nearing the development of their Charitable Trust and final quotations and designs are coming in to get their funding underway.

Motorsport Grant Successful

Thanks to the generosity of the Taranaki Electricity Trust (TET) work will begin in the Motorsports Component of Stratford Park.

Chairman of the Project Steering Committee, Philip Macey says “We are fortunate to have secured a grant through TET to initiate the development of the Motorsport area and take a huge step forward, the grant will be used to install power, create an entrance way, car park, ablution block, and offices allowing easier access to the land enabling the land to be utilised for a variety of Motorsport activities”.

The Motorsport Trust in conjunction with the Taranaki and South Taranaki Car Clubs has also set up a gravel sprint area that has been used several times already.

“We are in talks at the moment with groups wishing to set up driver training and other businesses on site, and the installation of services will enable those discussion to progress further,”          Project Manager, Tracey Blake says.

“Stratford Park cannot thank TET enough for their support of this segment as we are thrilled to look positively towards the project taking another step forward,” she said.

“This legacy project is for the people of Taranaki. Be it as a spectator or participant,” Macey adds.

Work is expected to get underway shortly.

Motorsport Working Group

Motorsports is alive and well in Taranaki and a group of passionate men and women, make up the Taranaki Motor Sport Working Group. They include:

Andrew Larsen - Chair

Born and raised in North Taranaki, Andrew has always been interested in cars and trucks. Joining the Taranaki Car Club in late 70’s, Andrew competed in their events in his first car – a Vauxhall Chevette. He then found himself off on his big OE at the end of 1981 and went to the UK.

It was here that Andrew joined the Wolverhampton and South Staffs Car Clubs and competed in the Lada Challenge Rally series of 1983, in a 1200cc Lada. His best result was a second in class – with nearly all the others were 1300cc. Andrew went onto many races and rallies there and enjoyed the Le Mans 24 hour several times.

Once married, the mortgage and children meant that motorsport was a low priority for a few years. But eventually the family returned to NZ in 2005 and saw the Targa, when it came to Taranaki and then the Taranaki Tarmac rally. This rekindled his motorsport ambitions and found himself involved again.

Currently, Andrew is President of the Leyland P76 Owners Club, the Taranaki Car Club and Chairman of the Taranaki Motorsport Facilities Charitable Trust and is actively involved in the Stratford Park Project.

You’ll find two Leyland P76’s, Toyota FX GT (race car) and a Jeep (tow car) sitting in his garage at the moment and he’s enjoying competing in local events and he has also completed two 24 hour Lemons/Nazcar events.

Jeff Dobson

Jeff is a qualified automotive engineer & opened Dobson Auto Centre over 40 years ago.  His interest and passion for motor sport goes right back to his apprenticeship days, where jet boat marathon racing and speedway engines were a big part of his weekly work.

Over my years in the business, Jeff has been involved in many areas of motorsport that has seen him build engines, dyno tuned cars from Speedway vehicles, Off Roaders, Jet boats, Drag cars and Circuit cars for various people.

He currently owns and races a 2002 Pontiac Pro Mod drag car, a sport that has seen him competitively racing for over 20 years. Jeff has competed in the national series where he has won several times and have also won the NZ title several times.

Jeff believes the proposal for a motorsport park in Stratford is fantastic for the sport and the area and looks forward to supporting both the complex and the competitors it will bring to the region.

Robert Boniface

Robert has built and driven speedway saloon cars, contracted to Stratford and Waikaraka Park over the years and has crewed on various stockcars, saloon cars, Superstocks, TQ’s and Midgets.  His experience has seen him build Speedway and other motorsport engines for various people.

Through the 1987 to 1993 seasons, Robert got involved in Rallying and was 4th in the1988 NZ Junior Rally Championships, where he built, maintained and funded it completely and saw his father as co-driver.

Robert competed at the Ashley Forest Rally Sprint in 1988, the year Rod Millen broke the 1m barrier. Over the years he has crewed or various rally crews and built/maintained many competition cars and trailers, he has driven many types of 2WD, 4WD and RWD rally cars to various levels of success; driven Superstocks at Stratford, Ferndene, Waikaraka Park and Palmerston North and currently drives a kart at Kart Sport Taranaki and raced away at

Whakatane (Edgecumbe).

Nowadays, Robert is Chief Kart Engineer & Coach to daughter, Jess and son Thomas.

Equine Steer Group

Much like the Motorsport group, we are fortunate enough to have a great bunch of experienced people leading the Equine Steer Group.  Learn about our first group here.

Brendan Attrill - Chair

Graduating from Massey with a BAgSci, Dip Agr Sci, Brendan has continued to work in Agriculture, both in research and in managing Fonterra Farms and in the Agri Business sector.  Having just completed a contract for Dairy Trust NZ, he runs his contracting business in Stratford and currently sits on the board for the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Over the past 11 years, Brendan has been in partnership with the Taranaki Regional Council and FarmSource Sustainable Dairy advisors and has intensively planted riparian areas on 15 dairy units.  He is actively involved in three community environmental projects, with a special interest in the protection of wetlands, on-farm tools to improve freshwater quality and the enhancement of biodiversity on Taranaki Dairy, Sheep and Beef properties.

Brendan’s governance experience and previous experience working building sponsorship, relationships with the corporate sector whilst the National Manager of the Kiwi Dairy Farmer of the Year competition, makes him the ideal leader to drive the Equestrian project forward.

Emily Perrin

Originally from suburban Wellington, in her work life Emily works as a contract Business Analyst, with a background in project delivery, change management and government administration. Growing up, she started riding as a teenager and was fortunate to ride and compete on other people’s horses for many years. With a deep passion for classical dressage, historical riding, and horsemanship, Emily moved to Taranaki about nine years ago.

Now based on a lifestyle property in Central Taranaki with her partner and horses, Emily is one of the founders of the local Working Equitation group and is actively involved with the Adult Riding Club. She organises and attends events, lessons and clinics, driven by a passion for fostering connections and learning experiences among people and their horses. In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Emily and is also a part of the Stratford Shakespeare Trust contributing to the vibrant local culture in Taranaki.

Dana Haszard

Dana considers it a privilege to be a part of the Stratford Park Project.  Since arrive in Taranaki in 1974, her involvement has included instructing and be involved in various leadership roles within Taranaki Pony Clubs, including coaching and managing teams, competing at National and                 North Island events.

She herself has competed at One Day Events that were once held on various farms all over the province and she enjoyed many years of hunting with the Taranaki Hunt.

Involving herself in Dressage as a rider and then, judge, this is an area that became and continues to be, the challenge of choice.

Over the years Dana has bred Ponies, Sport Horses & Thoroughbred Racehorses.  She considers herself to be something of a Jack-of-all-trades within the equestrian community and is inspired by the commitment, vision and energy of those who are progressing the plan for a bright future for equestrian in Taranaki.  Dana firmly believes that horses are good for humans.

Julie Roberts

Julie is passionate about our community and all things Equine, which makes the Stratford Park work very interesting to her.  Growing up in Toko she still lives in the district husband Karl and their two daughters Ella and Zara, who have attended the local school and are also involved in pony club activities, where Julie is currently head coach at the Eltham Pony Club.  Working as a Senior Agri Manager for Ravensdown, this allows Julie to interact with many of our fantastic                              rural families.

Involved with various committees in the community and having held board roles.

Julie is excited to be involved in the development of Stratford Park, especially the facilities and opportunities that the equestrian venture will bring to our equestrian community.

Our next group of those on the Equine Steer Committee will feature in the August newsletter.