TONY BONNE MAYOR

This website is the information network for Mayor Tony Bonne. You are able to use this site to communicate with him by commenting on information presented here and/or asking him questions.

I am Tony Bonne and I am mayor of the Whakatane District.

Personal Profile:

Born: Te Puke 1958
Age: 52 Years
I live at Ohope Beach where I have spent the majority of my life. I am married to Linda (Deputy Principal of Whakatane High School) and we have four daughters and one grandson.

History:

I have lived in the Whakatane district for 46 years. My schooling was at Ohope Beach School, Whakatane Intermediate School and Whakatane High School where I left at the end of my sixth form year.

Over my working career I have created opportunities that have offered many rewards. My working career began with the National Bank in Whakatane, I moved on quickly into ownership of my first business as a rural delivery contractor in Whakatane. In 1975, at 17, I was the youngest contractor the New Zealand Post Office had ever employed. To achieve another goal I had at the time, to travel overseas, I also owned and operated a taxi in Whakatane. I progressed in business until? in 1986 with my former wife we opened Sunshine Health Foods in Kopeopeo. This led to my establishing Health 2000 Limited.

In 1992 I successfully stood for the Whakatane District Council as a councilor. I was 34 years old at the time. In 1993 three other health food retailers and I established the health food chain in New Zealand called Health 2000 Limited. There are currently 71 stores in the group. I held the position of Chairman for this company until I sold my shares two years ago.

In 1995 I made a successful challenge for the mayoralty for the Whakatane District. I was the youngest Mayor Whakatane had ever had. I held on to this position for three years until 1998 when Mr Colin Hammond was elected to this role.  I believe that these years in office taught me a tremendous amount about local government politics and my capacity to work alongside other community elected officials.

When the new mayor was elected, for the first time I was unemployed, however, that did not last for long as I purchased Sportsworld Whakatane Limited late in that year. In the ten years I have had this business I have had the support of an amazing team in the store, many of whom have helped me expand the business to where it is today. Sportsworld was granted, by PADI International, a Five Star Dive Centre Status in 2000. This meant that for five years whilst the economy was buoyant I operated a successful Dive College in Whakatane. It was at this time that I began chartered dive trips to White Island and the dive operation of Sportsworld, Dive White, was established. Dive White is a Qualmark approved operation and an AAA award winner.

All my life I have been involved in giving the community where I am able to be useful. The biggest turning point for me was joining the local chapter of Whakatane Jaycee’s. This was a group for people between 18 and 40 years of age and was known to be a leadership training organization. I have always credited this organization for my strong leadership and commitment to the community.

There have been a number of groups that I have been involved in over the years with the current groups that have my attention being:

• Whakatane West Rotary Club (since 1994)
• Marriage Celebrant (since 1996)
• Radio Operator for Whakatane Volunteer Coastguard (last 8 years)
• Treasurer of the Whakatane Intermediate School Board of Trustees (since 2004)
• Vice Chairman of Vic Davis Memorial Trust
• A number of sports groups throughout the district have received sponsorship from Sportsworld.