After 25 years in the skateboarding and skatepark design industry, Dave completed his final skatepark in 2023 — closing one chapter as Te Aka entered its next.
Long before Te Aka, there was timber of a different kind.
In 1998, Dave carved out a business building the first New Zealand–made skateboards under the name Nelson Creek Skateboards. What began as a small local venture grew into a decades-long commitment to design, shaping and construction within the skate community.
Over the following years, Dave went on to design and build more than 20 skateparks across New Zealand. Each project required precision, structural understanding and an eye for flow — how people move through space.
By September 2023, he completed his final skatepark.
It marked the end of a 25-year era.
At the same time, Te Aka was nearing completion.
The skills developed through skateboarding and park construction — carpentry, structural design, practical problem-solving — carried directly into the treehouse build. Working with timber, understanding load, curve and balance, and building structures meant to last.
Te Aka has been Dave’s passion project. A different form of construction, but rooted in the same hands-on approach. The same commitment to doing things properly.
The result is a treehouse that sits confidently and seamlessly within the forest — engineered for West Coast conditions, built with experience, and shaped by decades of craftsmanship.
One chapter closed.
Another firmly established.
The ultimate West Coast escape — off-grid, indulgent, unforgettable. Your space to rest, reconnect, and explore untamed wilderness.