Bruce was born on 2nd December 1947 in Wellington and over his journey developed a passion and love for many things including family, farming, business and sports – especially rugby, water skiing, golf, and fishing. Bruce was an extremely intelligent, motivating and loyal character who had core values around friendships, family and business. These traits formed the foundation for both his success and happiness.

Bruce started work at age 14 as a baker for his father and then qualified as a meat inspector at the age of 22. He established his first cattle and sheep farm located in Foxton in 1977 and since then owned and ran cattle and sheep farms. He also farmed deer during the 1980’s and owned farms in Foxton, Wellington region, Wairarapa, Whanganui, Taranaki, Palmerston North and Hawkes Bay.

Bruce married Wynne in 1973 and together they had three children, Amanda (born ’75), Jarrod (born ’77) and Todd (born ’80).

Bruce moved to Whanganui in 1996 to join The Land Meat company and established the Horizon Trust in the same year. 12 months later Rotongaio Station was purchased by Horizon Trust for the purpose of farming sheep and cattle. Bruce had a passion for the land and received great satisfaction from developing and improving it for future generations. Bruce had a strong ethos around responsible and sustainable practices in all his farming and business interests.

In the late 90’s when Bruce began to settle in Whanganui he fell in love with the Wiritoa Lakes district on its outskirts in the south. He purchased 150 acres there which became his home and first Whanganui farm. During the early 2000’s Bruce spent his leisure time farming and improving his Rotongaio and Wiritoa properties and in 2006 undertook a major renovation on the farmhouse at Rotongaio Station. This was the birth of Rotongaio Lodge.

In 2007, Maxwell Quarry was born. Bruce, together with his son Jarrod, established a small shell rock quarry operation located 25kms north of Whanganui. Then, in November of 2016, Bruce strategically expanded the business and acquired two newly established small quarry sites located further up the coast in Hawera and Opunake. Today, the business has three consented quarries operating as South Taranaki Quarries Ltd and supply quality aggregates to local industry and for major infrastructure projects as far south as Wellington.

Bruce’s youngest son Todd was a golf professional and qualified golf coach who was based in Melbourne from 2003 to 2017. In late 2017, Todd relocated back to New Zealand in support of Bruce and the Family. Since then, Todd has been managing the Trusts interests on behalf of the Family developing a passionate interest for the extractives sector and the day to day operations of South Taranaki Quarries.

Bruce had many business interests during his entrepreneurial journey including Whanganui Helicopters Ltd which operated from 2005 to 2013. Whanganui Helicopters served as a mode of transport for many lucky golfing travelers as well being used for spraying and top-dressing farms. Bruce was extremely generous and through his passion for sports and golf become a strong supporter of the New Zealand PGA Golf Association, its PGA Championship and The Manawatu Golf Club. In 2017 & 2018 Horizon Golf, a subsidiary to Horizon Trust, was the naming sponsor of the New Zealand PGA Championship held at the Manawatu Golf Club.

In his last years Bruce resided in Palmerston North on a 50-acre farm with partner Tracey and her two children, Presley and Jake. It was there Bruce formed new interests in floristry and farming bees with Tracey.

Sadly, Bruce passed away suddenly on 13th February 2018, at the age of 70. Bruce was a transcendent man who was loved and respected by many and will be sorely missed… May he be resting in peace.