About Us

Whose the new owners of Taihape Sports and Outdoors?

One of them is the bloke below - Kelvyn Eglinton - born and bred in rural Manawatu, went to PNBHS (1986-1990) and Lincoln Uni (91-93) and worked in the sport sector, international mining, management consultancy and philanthropy.

Played all sorts of sport but mostly rugby from age 6 - 30 in Manawatu, Canterbury and BOP and was a Surf lifesaving rep for Bay of Plenty and  NZ Champ in IRB racing. Sits on a number of commercial and not-for-profit boards and is (was) a keen trail runner, tramper, fly fisher, surfer and camper.

Lavinia (Vinny) Jacobsen is a Taihape local with whakapapa links to Moawhango and Opaea via Ngāti Tamakōpiriand Ngāti Whitikaupeka. She was born and schooled here up to the age of 14,before moving to Paeroa. Over the last seven years she has consistently been in Taihape as the Program Director for the Mokai Patea Treaty Settlement process for the claims trust. This is one of her contracts as part of our consulting company KTV Ventures. Vinny has held senior leadership roles in sport, retail and tourism and loves a good wine and cheese.

We have a soon to be 15-year-old son Tai, who is a keen kart-sport driver and is at Hillcrest High School in Hamilton. We live with two dogs (Dee Dee and Kasey) and one cat (Tama)and they rule the place

We look forward to meeting you all over time!