Who’s Who?

Childhood

Warren was born in 1951 in Auckland and raised by his adoptive parents in Wätea on the shores of the Manukau harbour. It was a small rural community of less than fifty houses and was largely made up of retired First and Second World War Veterans, their wives, and families. As one of the few children in this community he grew up with a wonderful number of very eccentric “Aunties and Uncles” with stories of sea captains “putting down Mutinies”, life in the Imperial Chinese Palace, First World War Navel engagements, survival in the trenches, major tank engagements, life in Northern India, Ireland and in the Highlands. Church was in a small country chapel with a hitching rail still out the front for horses to be tethered. The lead from the roof had been taken to make musket balls during the land wars.

Warren’s schooling was at Mangere Central Country School and Onehunga High School. At OHS he was in the first 15 rugby team and was Auckland’s inter-school shotput champion. Holidays were spent hiking in the bush of the Hunua ranges, weeklong bike rides, or canoeing about the upper reaches of the Manukau harbour.   Generally having unsupervised boys’ own adventures in all school holidays.

Family

The eldest of ten in his birth family (five sisters and four brothers) he was the eldest of two in his adopted family having a younger sister.   He has strong relationships with both families with over 69 nephews and nieces.

Remarried in 2001 to Jan, a Nurse Specialist at the Starship hospital, specialising in Cystic Fibrosis.

They have four children in their blended family (three sons and one daughter) and eight grandchildren (seven granddaughters and one grandson)

Work career

In 1968 Warren joined the NZ Post office as a Telecommunication Technician, becoming a specialist in long distant communication.  He worked all over NZ including the National underwater cable centre, the National Transmission centre and assisted in the building and operation of the Warkworth satellite station.  His work involved being part of both military and civil communications.

In 1974 he joined the NZ Police and has held the positions of Police Constable, Police Sergeant and Sworn Police Prosecutor. His current role is Non-Sworn member in Charge of the Auckland Diversion Program.

Masonic career

Warren was initiated into the Eden Lodge 1530 in 1991 and was the Master in 1999, 2004,2014 and 2015. He was exalted into Eden Chapter 1530 and has held the role of First Principal 2005.

At a District level Warren has been the Past Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies in the Craft and Past District Grand Registrar in the Royal Arch.

His other masonic duties have been:

– President of the Board of General Purposes, 7yrs

– Chairman of Ellerslie Masonic Centre (current)

– Trustee of Eden Lodge Masonic Centre, 15yrs

– Trustee of North Island Masonic District Charitable Trust, 8yrs

Warren was appointed Right Worshipful District Grand Master at the Ellerslie Masonic Centre on 21st November 2020.

Warren has a strong sense of community and sees the benefit of freemasonry being extended beyond the men in the lodge to their families and the wider community. Throughout his career in the Police force and during his time on the North Island Masonic District Charitable Trust he has seen the need for practising charity in the community and wishes to extend the masonic reach.

Hobbies

In his spare time Warren’s first priority is Family. He and Jan enjoy all the time they can arrange with them  (especially their amazing grandchildren).

 A large vegetable garden to potter in, water colour painting in the house truck (the Wandering Albatross), he likes painting seascapes, finishing writing & Illustrating a children’s book and building a model railway together with grandchildren (a very long-term project) are a few of his favourite pastimes.

Travelling to other countries to endorse his love of everything historical Warren can immerse himself in a country’s customs, food and culture.  Warren and Jan have travelled extensively throughout the world with countries in the Middle East being the most memorable.   Tracking down ruined castles, prehistoric sites, battlefields and museums are his specialities with his greatest passion being archaeology and human evolution.

Details to follow.

Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, my father was a civil engineer and my mother a school teacher.

As a family we emigrated to South Africa in 1961, as my father had been asked to establish a branch of the engineering company he work for near Johannesburg, in a town called Benoni.

After completing my schooling, I entered the South African military, where I served both full-time and part-time for 12 years.

I completed a correspondence Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of South Africa (UNISA), while working for several Technology Consulting firms. In 2007 I completed my Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College (UK).

I married my wife Janet (Jan) in January 1989, and together with our three children emigrated to New Zealand in January 2001.

I joined Masonry in 2005, after my father-in-law, Ron Wilson (a member of the Sykes Lodge Driffield, Yorkshire) put me in touch with the District Office.

I was initiated into The Remuera Lodge in September 2005, and placed into the Chair in 2011.

In 2013 I was appointed to my first District Rank, promoted to District Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2018.

I received the honour of promotion to Assistant District Grand Master in November 2023.

I am also a member of Royal Arch Masonry, Mark Masonry, Royal Ark Mariner, The Operatives, Rose Croix of Heredom and Allied Masonic Degrees, having passed through the Chair in most of these Orders.

I see my appointment as, to assist the District in growing and retaining its presence as the premier Masonic District in New Zealand, and look forward to the challenge.

Born in Christchurch, then moved to Devonport briefly because my father was in the Royal NZ Navy, and then on to New Plymouth when I was about 3 and have stayed there most of my life. I have two younger sisters.

I was married to Christine in 1983 and widowed in November 2013.

In 2014 I retired after a most varied and personally rewarding career.

I was initiated into Mt Egmont lodge 670 in April 1994, made WM in 1999 for the first time and in total have been master 5 times. I am also a member of Sir Donald McLean Craft, Chapter and Mark lodges and the Mt Egmont Royal Ark Mariners.

On first joining the craft I didn’t know there were 3 degrees, several Constitutions or even a District or Grand lodge and had never even seen any other lodge rooms, ‘what a learning experience that was’.

I have served as Past District junior Deacon (PDJD), Assistant District Grand Director of Ceremonies (ADGDC), District Grand Chaplain (DGChap) and was promoted to Assistant District Grand Master (ADGM) in 2023 and past Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies (PGADC) in 2024.

I enjoy getting out and walking, fine dining when finances allow and my Masonic duties which include meeting many interesting and varied people.

I am currently back working part time doing what is one of the best jobs possible, watching others work but ensuring they do it safely.

I was Initiated into Masonry in a London lodge that meets at Great
Queen Street in 2007.  

After emigrating to New Zealand, I joined Wellington Lodge No.
1521 and then Exalted into Aorangi Chapter No. 2300, before
moving to Pretoria, South Africa, where I served as Worshipful
Master of a local lodge.  I also joined a Royal Arch Chapter; the
Order of the Secret Monitor, going through the Chair and serving
two years as DAGDC, and also the Rose Croix.

My next move was to Vanuatu, and as a Past Master I was looking
forward to a spell in the East but had the privilege to take on the DC
role for three years. In 2020, this District assisted them to
consecrate a Chapter.

I eventually returned to New Zealand in 2018, this time to Auckland
where I joined Eden Lodge and Chapter No.1530, going through the
Chair in both.  I have also joined Turanganui Lodge, Northern Light
Lodge and other Orders including Secret Monitor, Rose Croix, Mark
and RAM.

Early in 2021 I took on the full-time role as District Secretary.  This
role acts as the liaison between our thirty-six lodges/Chapters,
District Office, and London.  Beyond the administration of DGL and
DGC, I am also the secretary for the Ellerslie Masonic Centre and
the District Charitable Trust.

The basics of my role is to offer guidance, advice and support to
anyone who contacts me.