Our People

You'll come to love the Poronui family. Not just because our guides are on first name basis with the best trout. And not just because of our relaxed and welcoming attitude.  But because over the time you spend with us, and the stories we'll share, we'll become like family. Another reason to come back to Poronui.

• 

  Eve Reilly - Lodge Manager

  Irish by birth and character Eve was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. She travelled to New Zealand in 1981, to follow the footsteps of an grand-uncle who ran away to sea and eventually settled in Wellington. The lure of the country, the people and the lifestyle were all too enticing for Eve. She has been involved in the growth of the Poronui business from primitive beginnings to a world class sporting facility. That easy-going personality with an eye for detail pervades all, and she is surrounded with a team of like minded people.
  

• 

  Steve Smith - General Manager

  Steve Smith came to Poronui as GM for Westervelt in NZ after many years of dedicated service with Fish & Game. Steve began at Fish & Game in 1984 with the Wellington and Taranaki regions before becoming regional manager for the Eastern region, based in Rotorua. Recognised for his outstanding work both regionally and at national level, Steve continues to work privately for the interests of anglers and hunters at Westervelt. Steve is a wildlife biologist and a keen advocate for long term land and resource management. He is married to Tracey and has three children. 

• 

  Mark Aspinall

  Mark is renowned for his knowledge of the Central North Island Rivers. He is the longest serving full-time fly fishing guide in the Taupo region. Mark has been guiding at Poronui since 1986 and became Head Guide in 1998. He recommends an overnight camp to truly experience New Zealand back country. Mark’s passion for fishing began as a small boy with expeditions with his father to the Mataura and Clutha Rivers in the South Island. Even on his day off he can be seen exploring new stretches of rivers or heading to the coast to sea fish. Mark is totally focused whether stalking a wild brown or rainbow trout or a Sika Stag
   

• 

  Craig Aspinall

  Craig lives and breaths fishing whether it be brown and rainbow trout or snapper and kingfish. It seems to run in the family! Craig has extensive knowledge of both the backcountry streams of the Central North Island and Taupo tributaries. He has been a member of the Poronui team of fishing guides for over 13 years. Craig can often be found hard at work tying an imaginative pattern to lure the selective brown
  

• 

  Grant Petherick

  Grant has lived in Hawke’s Bay all his life and has been fly-fishing in the area and the central North Island for the past 35 years. Grant has been part of the guiding team at Poronui since 1996 and is an executive member of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association. Grant’s other great interest is wine and he has operated a successful specialist wine shop, facilitated the sale of a prime Gimblett Gravels vineyard and currently consults on New Zealand and international wine lists for some of the country's top resorts. His extensive travel experiences, knowledge of wine and passion for fly fishing make for very congenial company on the river. 
   

• 

  Sean Andrews

  Sean is originally from the UK and began his guiding career in Sweden approximately 15 years ago. His wife Eva is Swedish and they have two teenage daughters. Sean’s dream was to settle in New Zealand and make fishing guiding his career, and he and his family have now made Taupo home. Sean is an Umpqua pro-designer fly tier, and stalking the resident wild trout is his particular interest.
  

• 

  David Wood

  To say that Dave is passionate about fishing would be an understatement. He has been fishing for longer than he can remember. He leased the Waitahanui Lodge for several years where he lived to fish and truly refined his fishing skills on both the Taupo tributaries and the back country rivers. He is a member of the Taupo Fishing Advisory Council that represents angler’s interests in the Taupo area. Dave manages to combine fishing with travel and family life, his wife Sofia and three boys Liam, Benjamin and Colin. Dave approaches life with great enthusiasm, energy and humour. His love of the outdoors, back country New Zealand, and fishing in particular is infectious. That coupled with his many travel stories makes for a most enjoyable and informative day or overnight camp.
  

• 

  Ben Hall

  Ben originally from a farming background in the King Country now lives on Poronui with his wife Claire and young daughter Olivia. Fishing to Ben is second nature. He was so determined to become a fishing guide he spent a season as a guide in training at Poronui some 12 years ago. Ben knows every stream and is constantly extending his range. He could be described as an explorer and delights in spending a night camped on the river bank. He is also a fine shot - so challenge him to a round on the sporting clays range. 
   

• 

  Derek Neese

  Derek went to school in Wellington and took full advantage of the variety of rivers in that area. His university days were no different and he expanded his repertoire of rivers when he should have been studying. Currently he divides his time between British Columbia and New Zealand. He and Fawn his wife and son Julien live in Fernie. Travelling to Taupo for our season allows him to catch up with extended family in New Zealand. Derek’s passion for fishing has continued irrespective of hemispheres. His scientific background provides an additional layer of knowledge.  
   

• 

  Claire Hall

  Claire joined Ben, her husband, at Poronui following their marriage some eight years ago. Claire’s interests and passion are many and varied - from horses, to food to fishing - and in particular - people. Her easy-going nature creates a relaxing atmosphere. Claire can turn her hand to anything. She can be found arranging flowers, cooking a sumptuous meal, guiding our guests on horseback or being Mum to her beautiful daughter. 
   

• 

  Mark McGlashan - Property Manager

  Mark recently joined the team at Poronui as property manager. Mark has an extensive background in farming. His other great passions are hunting and fishing. It was an easy decision for he and his wife Julie to come to live on Poronui. Their grown up children Hayley and Brad were very supportive of the move.