Committee Members

Meet The Committee

President

Chris Stokes

My involvement in the hobby started at the age of 11 when I began to volunteer at The National Aquarium of New Zealand. At the age of 15 I was offered paid employment at the Aquarium which I took up as well as continuing my volunteer work until I left to study at the age of 19. During which time I earned multiple qualifications in aquatics including my Certificate in Finfish Cultures.

I have spent the last 10 years working in the pet industry, the last 9 of which have been running my own company, Creative Aquarium Solutions. My company is a small store, however, recently we have had the opportunity to be able to hold training sessions for other stores to help increase their knowledge and ability to provide better service and knowledge to customers

My wife Laken and I both have a strong passion for animals with Dogs, Cats, Terrapins, Lizards, Aquariums and a Parrot making up our self described zoo of pets. I have recently started the process of setting up a Reef Aquarium however I do have a soft spot for New Zealand Natives which I have kept in the past and would love to keep them again.

Outside of the hobby I work in the events industry in various roles including event management, site management and site technician to name a few.

Vice-President

Vacant

Secretary

Chris Drake

I am the current secretary of the Hawkes Bay Aquarium society, a position I have held since 2008. I first got involved with fish keeping in the late 1980’s. Since then I have added tanks, as I’ve been allowed. I enjoy showing my tanks during tank crawls. I am mainly interested in keeping small African tropical fish as I like planted tanks.

I am also interested in technology and the ways this is now being incorporated into the hobby.

I’ve tried to breed a number of different fish, but mainly only succeeded in breeding the common ones, oh well it still feels good to get a certificate every now and then.

During our clubs nights I have given or assisted in a number of talks, including tank building, glass cutting, nano tanks, CO2 systems (commercial and home-made), planted tanks, filters and other topics.

Over the years I have written a number of articles and contributed many other small items to help make our magazine more enjoyable

Treasurer

Laken Stokes

Hi my name is Laken Stokes and currently I am the treasurer for the Hawkes’ Bay Aquarium Society. I have been in the club a few years now, but still remember coming to the club nights years ago with my dad. I have always been passionate about animals and the proper care for them. Years ago I completed a course for the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing. Sadly I do not have a current job in this role, but the things I learnt have come in handy many times over the years. Currently I am an employee at a Countdown supermarket where I have been working for 12 years now.

My husband Chris and I have a lovely 5 year old son and another baby on the way (due in a few months). All of us are passionate about animals and joined the club as a family membership. We have a dog, 2 cats, an eclectus parrot, a blue tongue lizard, red eared slider turtle and of course an abundance of tanks. Before our son was born we also done a lot of fostering where we helped many animals of all kinds.

I look forward to meeting others who join the club and watching it grow.

Committee Members

Geoff Scott

This is Geoff Scott. You will know me as Scotty.

I have been passionate for keeping and looking after Fish since 2001, back in the original aquarium. I started working at the aquarium on a voluntary basis where I worked with Rob Yarrall and Kerry Hewitt, during this time I learnt a lot about fish keeping. I was eventually employed by the National Aquarium of New Zealand, where I have run educational programs and other activities.

I have been a member of the HBAS for over 20 years now and have served on the committee as President, Vice president, committee member and auctioneer. I have presented a number of talks at club meetings on reptiles, overseas aquariums, our aquarium, penguins and many more.

Graeme Calder

First started keeping fish when at primary school Wanganui, when asked to look after the class goldfish during the school holidays. The passion was started and was not long before I had multiple tanks though my parents home and ponds outside.

I continued to keep fish and breeding into my 20s but life changes and working around the country made continuing difficult so discontinued.

For the last few years, I have been based in Napier looking after my mother, which many of you have meet at meetings etc. I have set up a community tank for her and we have joined the club with a family subscription.

Last year I was co opted on to the committee and this year have agreed to stand for election.

Last year I probably not add a lot to the running of the club but was more about learning how everything operates etc. this year I would like to help with fundraising and forming an ongoing relationship with the skink programme.

Vacant