📍Tuakau, South Auckland, New Zealand
“I grew up in Tuakau, south of Auckland, where my father ran a beekeeping business and a small newspaper. Our home was simple but full of ambition and hard work. From those early years I developed a love of the outdoors and a restlessness that never truly left me. I discovered mountains on a school trip to Ruapehu aged just sixteen — and from that moment, everything changed. People ask what drove me toward Everest. I think it started here, in these flat South Auckland paddocks, staring at the horizon and wondering what lay beyond it.”
👍 LovedThe smell of rain on grass, the quiet before dawn, the camaraderie of a good expedition team, a strong cup of tea after a hard day's work, and the particular satisfaction of having attempted something truly difficult.
👎 DislikedFalse modesty, unnecessary bureaucracy, and people who give up before they have truly tried. Also bees — after years of beekeeping, I had my fill.
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today