I grew up in Whanganui where I attended St Augustines College. Upon finishing school, I moved to Australia with ambitions of pursuing a career in rugby league, until I sustained a permanent and career ending nerve injury and partial paralysis to my right arm, hand, and fingers.
As a result of my injury, I returned home, where I met my wife Mellissa, a RN in Whanganui Hospital’s ED. We have two adult sons, Rayden, and Kaylin, both alumni of Otago University and who have gone on to successful careers in their chosen field.
My most recent work history was with the Department of Corrections in various frontline custodial roles at Whanganui Prison from October 2003 to June 2020. I now operate as a sole trader consultant (Huwyler Innovative Consulting) and coordinate the development of various projects including affordable housing, Renewable Energy, wetland protection and water quality for Iwi, Hapu, Whānau Trusts, Central and Local Government.
I was introduced to lawn bowls by my corrections colleague, Bruce Winterburn and play out of the Durie Hill Bowling Club. I joined the NZDLBA, now known as Para Bowls New Zealand in 2018 as a B8 classified physically disabled bowler and have won two national titles, the 2018 NZDLBA National Pairs with Parajack Mark Noble and the 2020 Bowls New Zealand B5-B8 Disabled National Pairs with partner Bruce Sayers.
To date, I have won three centre titles, the 2022 Whanganui Men’s Open Triples with my son Kaylin and Bruce Winterburn, the 2022, Whanganui Mens Open Fours, again with Bruce and the 2023, Taranaki COC Triples for Bowls Paritutu, with Kaylin and Kevan Sellars.
In 2019, I was elected as an executive member of the NZDLBA, and in 2021 I became the Bowls New Zealand Vice President and elected to the International Bowlers with a Disability (IBD) board, the world governing body for para lawn bowls. In 2022 I was co-opted as the Rohe Councillor on the Aotearoa Bowls Board (ABB) for Ngā Rohe o Whanganui, Rangitikei, Horowhenua due to the illness of the previous councillor.
